Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan and many others in this House, I am around long enough to remember AnCO and I have been involved in both CE and FÁS schemes for many years. I want to clearly put on record that the purpose of setting up limited companies by FÁS at the time was to shift responsibility for the disbursement and accountability of moneys on foot of a "Prime Time" investigation on RTÉ, where mismanagement was found in the south east of the country. That was cleverly construed in order to shift responsibility from the Government to the voluntary chairs of community boards and to deflect from the issue which I knew was going to come down the road, namely, providing a pension for those who look after the schemes on behalf of the voluntary boards.

In conclusion, on average there are 30 people being managed in these schemes. In the public service people would be paid a pension for looking after 30 staff. The Minister should get the finger out and pay the pension.

See this speech in context