Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important issue. The closure of the hostel project in Tipperary town and the abandonment of the workers has caused heartbreak for the workers themselves and the wider community. The hostel project was a jobs initiative scheme. The workmanship and craftsmanship displayed by the supervisor and the 23 employees was above and beyond all expectations. They completed the refurbishment of a church, as well as 60 other projects throughout Tipperary. Those workers were let go without the benefit of the enhanced redundancy scheme, which was in place in 2007 and was issued in counties such as Donegal and Wexford for other schemes that were closed down. They are entitled to receive the enhanced redundancy payment on top of their statutory redundancy, which they waited for over a year and a half to receive. It is totally unfair and an injustice to the workers who gave so much time and energy to the project.

Pobail and FÁS are conducting investigations into the project, which have been going on for nearly two and a half years. It is time we got some clarity in the matter. The building has become derelict. Vandals are breaking into it and it has been abandoned, for all intents and purposes. Over €4 million was spent on the project, in wages and materials grants. The project was very well supported by various Departments, the local Tipperary Town Council and South Tipperary County Council.

Will the workers received enhanced redundancy, to which they are entitled? When the workers were being let go they were told by FÁS that it was because of misappropriation of FÁS funds but neither the workers nor their supervisor misappropriated any funds. I am not making any allegations as to who did but the workers definitely did not and their names should not be besmirched and should be cleared. I am aware that a Garda investigation is ongoing and I hope it will have a successful conclusion.

This is a travesty of justice. Tipperary town and the wider county has many fabulous community projects, which had enjoyed the support of FÁS, Pobail and many other statutory funders over the years, with excellent results. One such project is being honoured today by a Government Minister, namely the Canon Hayes project in Tipperary Town. It is a pity that the hostel project has left such a sour taste in the town. Five of the directors resigned from the board and the chairman, before he resigned, made complaints to the Garda about his name being on claims documents that he had not signed. It was accepted that the signatures on the documents were not his. This is a very sad situation where money has been misappropriated. The workers and the board members who resigned should not have to carry the can here. Their names should be cleared.

I appeal to the Minister to ensure that the investigations by Pobail and FÁS are concluded without further delay and the findings released. If there are charges to be brought by An Garda Síochána, let them be brought. At least then there would be an end to the rumours, speculation and innuendo which are unfair, in particular, on the workers. They completed this project in a spectacular fashion. The church really is something to behold. It is a real treasure, as are the rooms in the hostel that they had finished. The hostel is now lying abandoned, even though it is nine tenths finished. The gates are locked but unfortunately, weather and vandals are wreaking havoc on it. Above all the workers have been cast off, some of them into early retirement, in an unfair fashion. They have been mistreated. Indeed, they continue to be mistreated because the supervisor has not received his full redundancy payment, despite having an agreement with FÁS

The workers are entitled to enhanced redundancy. I appeal to the Minister, although I accept he is not the Minister responsible, to have the situation investigated thoroughly because it is a blight on all community employment groups, of which there are many in Tipperary town and district. It is not fair that the good name of the people of Tipperary or the good workers or supervisors involved would be besmirched in this manner.

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