Fás workers braced for major changes as budget cuts loom

By TONY GALVIN COMMUNITY groups, voluntary agencies and service providers working with the elderly throughout the region are bracing themselves for the impact the Budget may have on the levels of assistance they can offer. There are growing concerns that Fás will suffer a major hit and the knock-on effect of this will be felt by a considerable number of people employed in ancillary services supported by Fás. [private] The indication now is that the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan is going to provide for Fás workers to carry out much of the work local authority operatives traditionally carried out. Already Galway Co Council is making provision for the changeover. The council has lost 60 per cent of its outdoor staff and many more are expected to retire before February under the provisions of the Croke Park agreement. There is concern, however that if the emphasis is placed on Fás providing replacement manpower for local authorities, supports may be withdrawn from other areas. One TD has called for the continuation of all current services supported by Fás, and for the Department of the Environment to make provision for funding any new role the agency is charged with. Independent Deputy Noel Grealish told The Herald that his big fear is that those in positions of power, such as executives in bodies such as Fás and the HSE, will ensure that they are well protected, and stand back and watch as the poorest and the most vulnerable members of society are thrown to the wolves. He points out that Health Minister James Reilly has already warned that a large number of community nursing homes could have to close if his Department cannot make savings in other areas. There is also an on-going issue between the HSE and private nursing homes over the Fair Deal scheme, which is causing real concern among those involved with the care of the elderly. 'I fear this Budget will have a devastating effect on the elderly and those most in need of protection in our society. I fear any attack on Fás in particular will ripple out through communities in ways that we don't yet realise. The Fás offices may remain intact but what about the services they support?' He went on to say that the two per cent hike in VAT was the best indicator of how the cuts will fall. 'A civil servant on €250,000 will hardly notice such a VAT hike but for an unemployed person or many pensioners this has a direct impact on what they can spend on food and fuel. 'When Labour and Fine Gael went into Government these are the people they pledged to protect. Where are the Government TDs from Galway this week? There's not a sign of any of them because they're hiding. They all have plenty to say when the sun is shining but are remarkably quiet now that the Budget cloud is over us. Shame on them,' he added. Staff in Fás offices have been briefed to prepare themselves for major cuts in services. There is very real concern in the voluntary sector that supports provided by Fas employees or by workers supported by Fás initiatives, will be cut back drastically following the Budget. People on schemes or those operating under contract in a broad range of areas have been warned to prepare themselves for the worst. County Manager Martina Maloney told a meeting of Galway Co Council this week that the council had already lost over 300 staff up to this month and they expected more to be retiring. Tuam Area Cllr Tom McHugh said that he was optimistic that the new programme could work but it was still a major challenge to replace skilled workers with those employed on schemes. 'There is no doubt that there are suitable workers out there, but we are entering new territory here and there are all sorts of issues, including union concerns, to overcome first,' he added. [/private]