Creevy Co-op chairperson Breda
Bourke with independent general election candidate Marie Casserly and MEP Marian Harkin at Creevy Co-op
MEP Marian Harkin has called for a national campaign to persuade Pobal to contribute to the new national pay minimum of €9.15 for community employees.
A Co. Donegal campaign on the issue is being launched at a meeting in Glenfin on Wednesday night.
Ms Harkin expressed horror on Saturday when she was told during a visit to Creevy Co-op in south Donegal that Pobal was not funding the pay increase introduced last week.
Pobal is a national agency to support community organisations.
Ms Harkin said: “It’s disgraceful that a State agency won’t pay the agreed national new minimum wage. There has to be a national campaign on this”.
She said she intends writing to Tanaiste Joan Burton, who is also Minister for Social Protection. The Department provides funding for Pobal.
Ms Harkin, along with Independent Dail candidate Marie Casserly, was visiting Creevy Co-op for the first time to hear about its work as a marine facility and rental of eco-friendly holiday cottages.
Ms Casserly will be running in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency which now includes much of south Donegal.
Creevy co-op employees are paid under Pobal funding.
Community groups across county Donegal are holding a public meeting on Wednesday night at the Cloghan Day Centre in Glenfin.
Meeting organisers have said in a message to community managers: “It is vital if we are to move forward with this issue to Pobal that all groups are represented on the night to show that we are serious in moving forward.
“We have been disappointed with the lack of support from some public representatives as they are our voice in terms of getting the Minister to pay the CSP projects the minimum wage for their employees.”
Tags: