Job Initiative Programme   

In 1998 Athlone  Communtiy Taskforce applied for and were successful in securing the status of Management Agent for the F.A.S. Job Initiative Project in the Athlone area.

Job Initiative is a programme providing full-time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more and in receipt of social welfare payment over that period.  The aim of the Job Initiative programme is to assist long term unemployed persons to prepare for work opportunities in the open labour market.  The programme does this by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities. The same employment conditions apply to the programme as in other jobs.  For example participants have the same employments rights and protection regarding annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, etc.  

In  2008 under the cohesion process Westmeath Community Development Ltd. took over almost all  projects within Athlone Community Taskforce Job Initiative being one of these. 

In November 2004 the minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Micheal Martin introduced some changes to the Job Initiative programme.  Participants now can remain employed on Job Initiative indefinitely as opposed to the three year rule which was in effect up to the end of 2004.  

Presently Westmeath Community Development Ltd has 17 participants on the programme and are seconded to 10 local community based projects. They are engaged in the provision of a wide variety of services i.e. childcare, maintenance/caretaker, info. technology instructors,  info./development worker, enterprise support worker, drivers, information officer and computer accounts manager.  A tracking system was introduced in which we follow participants progress for two years after leaving Job Initiative and offer ongoing support to them in adapting into full time employment.    

For further information please contact Ann Hopkins on 09064-98027 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it