Blackrock School

The Fane Community Employment Group serving Blackrock, Haggardstown, Dromiskin, Darver

Directors: Joe McKenna (Chairman, Secretary), Liam McCallion (Treasurer), Larry Magnier, John Horan, Liam Reilly, Pat. McKeown, Carmel Neary.

Other members of the Management committee are Tom Dooley and Des Halpenny.

The Fane Community Employment (CE) group has operated a very successful employment scheme in this community for over 25 years. Initially there were various disparate groups based in parish, schools, residential estates and sports clubs.
In 1991 the groups were amalgamated and a full-time supervisor was appointed and in2004 the Blackrock and Dromiskin groups joined under the name” The Fane Community Employment Group Ltd.” The Fane office is located at The Community Centre, Sandy Lane, Blackrock. Currently the scheme employs 25 participants – 13 in the Blackrock community and 12 in the Dromiskin/Darver Community.
All FÁS funding for the scheme comes from the EU and Irish Exchequer. Funding covers the cost of participants wages, training costs, insurance, capital expenditure and allowable materials. The main objectives of the scheme are to provide training and development for participants and to facilitate progression to full-time employment.
The scheme has contributed significantly to success in various community awards and marks in the National Tidy Towns Competition have continued to increase annually in Blackrock and Dromiskin.
The annual budget is in the region of €450.000.00 and the Management Committee recognises the invaluable input from FÁS in this area. Sponsor groups must contribute towards the cost of Employer’s PRSI, bank interest charges and other expenses not covered by FÁS. A full audit is submitted annually. The Management Committee assumes the full responsibilities of an employer and must adhere to employment legislation, health and safety requirements, etc.

The main tasks carries out on the scheme include:

• A range of duties for Tidy Towns (weed control and planting ) in both communities
• Maintenance of flower beds, green areas, and graveyards belonging to both communities
• Operation of the street vacuum in Blackrock
• Supervision and maintenance in Community Centres
• Support for Rock Celtic F.C. Geraldine’s G.F.C. and St. Joseph’s G.F.C.
• Support for Darver Centre of Excellence
• Supervision and maintenance at Blackrock and Playground
• Full office administration and accounting

Sponsor Groups include:

• Parishes of Blackrock/Haggardstown, Dromiskin/Darver
• Blackrock Tidy Towns Committee
• Dromiskin Tidy Towns Committee
• Rock Celtic F.C. Geraldine’s G.F.C. St. Joseph’s G.F.C.
• Blackrock, Dromiskin, Darver Community Centres.
• Darver Centre of Excellence
• Blackrock Playground Committee
• Graveyard Committees

Management Committee: Joe McKenna, John Horan, Liam Mc Callion, Larry Magnier, Carmel Neary, Liam Reilly, Tom Dooley, Des. Halpenny, Rev. Padraig Keenan