Madam, – We wish to contribute to the debate on Fás. Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme is a community-based drugs programme in Kilbarrack.
For the past 11 years we have been able to run three projects in one, with funding from Fás and the Health Services Executive (HSE):
(1) A Fás-funded Community Employment Project for adult drug users.
(2) A HSE-funded youth initiative – Youth Matters – that links in with 140 young people per week, and
(3) A HSE-funded parents’ support group – St John’s.
None of our work would be possible without financial support from Fás. But Fás’s contribution cannot be measured solely in financial terms.
When the second heroin wave hit the disadvantaged areas in Dublin in the 1990s Fás were the first to respond. Since then they have helped us in every step of our journey. With Fás funding we have been able to train up our support workers.
All our dealings with Fás staff have been very positive and it would be a terrible pity if through the current controversy that these workers became demoralised.
Our message to Fás is to keep up the good work and that those of us working in the community will always be grateful for your help. – Yours, etc,