Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, Martin Heydon, welcomed the Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD, to Kildare on Monday last.
“I was delighted that the Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD, was able to visit two outstanding Community Employment Schemes during her visit to Kildare South this week.
“Minister Doherty presented awards to twenty-seven members of the Monasterevin CE Scheme, who were also celebrating twenty-five successful years of work in the Community. The CE Scheme is a great way of getting people back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. Participants can take up other part-time work during their placement. The Monasterevin scheme is a credit to its supervisors Helena and Theresa.
“The Allen Area CE Scheme also hosted Minister Doherty in Ballyteague GAA grounds, where the Minister discussed ‘Good Morning, Kildare’ and the great work the Scheme does locally. We were treated to beautiful Christmas Carols from the Allenwood CE Choir under the watchful eye of surpervisor Deirdre Moran.
“The work of Community Employment Schemes is vital in our Towns and Villages and I welcome the announcement in Budget 2018 that the weekly minimum payment on the Community Employment scheme will increase in the New Year.