FAS Community Employment Programmes (C.E.P.) are aimed at involving people in projects within their own community while providing training opportunities to further the participants’ chances in the job-market.
The forerunner of the local FÁS programme was a Social employment scheme in 1991 that employed only two or three people and was voluntarily supervised by Tom Mac Namara as a member of the Community Council who sponsored the programme.
Criteria for community schemes changed and the first FÁS programme in Mountshannon began in 1992, again under the sponsorship of the Community Council. It started out with 11 participants, supervised by the late Bill Tiernan until 1993. From 1993 until now, Tom MacNamara is the supervisor.
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Since its inception, the team have been responsible for general maintenance of the village, including the Harbour, Church, Community Hall and Woodpark Forest areas. The biggest involvement of the team, however, has been in the construction of the Aistear Park (which began in 1995) and its continued maintenance, improvement and upgrading since.
The Aistear Park was financed through incredible community fundraising initiatives and commitment, securing grants from a number of regional and national agencies , which was match-funded to a large extend through FÁS wages and material grants.
When additional labour was needed to complete the Aistear construction in time for its scheduled opening in June 2000, FÁS Head Office were applied to for an increase in participants.
A total of 15 people have been employed on the scheme since then. However, the extent of maintenance in the village and surrounding areas required is so labour-intensive, that the scheme could easily supply work for additional applicants.
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Training opportunities have been wide-ranging over the years and since 1995 participants have been involved in courses as varied as:
Landscape Gardening, Organic Gardening, Waste Management, Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Machine Operating Safety, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Computer Training, Stone Wall Building, Pet Grooming, Willow Hurdle and Living Willow Fence Making, Tinsmithing, Rustic Furniture and Garden Ornament Making, Book-keeping, Traditional Copper Craft, Hedge-Laying, Car Maintenance, Domestic Appliance Maintenance, Community Development, Painting and Decorating, Tiling, Welding, Arts and Crafts, Core Skills, Digger Driving (wheel and track), Driving Lessons, Creative Writing, Accounting and Taxation, Desk Top Publishing
After finishing the scheme, FÁS members have moved onto marketing, self-employment, education, construction, stone work, health and fitness, alternative therapies and manufacturing. A number have attained Diplomas and others have attained a Degree or are currently pursuing one.
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Some of the projects undertaken by the Mountshannon FAS C.E.P. include:
Widening of the harbour road, including reconstruction of stone walls, to increase road access
Reconstruction of all the stone walls around the harbour
Care for the Elderly
Landscaping of the recreational areas at the harbour
Reconstruction of all existing stone walls in the village in need of repair
Monthly publication of the full-colour, 48 page Mountshannon Community Newsletter
Creation of pedestrian walks and picnic areas throughout Woodpark Forest in conjunction with Coillte.
Annual participation in the Tidy Towns and National Spring Clean initiatives
General landscaping of the village streetscape
Extensive renovation of the Community Hall in 1992, including addition of a kitchen and Doctor’s surgery facilities.
Construction of Aistear: foundation, stone structure, paving, planting, landscaping, installation of artefacts,
Construction of Triple arch shelter
Design and construction of sunken seated arbour
Layout and construction of the labyrinth
Construction of rustic playground area
Drawing up planting plans for park and maze areas
Fabrication of wildlife habitats for bats, birds, ladybirds, butterflies, lacewings
Extensive redesign of Mountshannon (stick in text from about page, Dave)
Design, layout and execution of Mountshannon Tourist Information board at the harbour
Ongoing maintenance such as mowing, weeding and litter collection
Find regular updates on your local FÁS team’s activities in the Mountshannon Community Newsletter
FAS/CES Team x-mass week 2005
Up coming events
e-mail Mountshannon.com at:
info@mountshannon.com
