Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

The Community Workers' Co-operative is a membership organisation of groups and individuals, which work on the ground to tackle poverty, inequality and promote social inclusion. Some 30% of its 800 members are unwaged and approximately one third are from organisations and projects. They are not a representative organisation for community workers. For 24 years it has been an important, if sometimes a critical voice of Government policies on anti-poverty and equality issues. The most recent assessment of its work carried out by Combat Poverty Agency at the end of 2003 acknowledged the quality of its work and its focus on poverty and exclusion. The quality of its work and its commitment to addressing poverty is recognised locally, nationally and internationally. The Migrant Rights Centre for Ireland said the Community Workers' Co-operative is the one organisation that has consistently provided a space for people committed to social inclusion on justice to take action and influence policy. It has brought together organisations and individuals at grassroots, regional and national level to organise and develop the analysis necessary to engage in a meaningful way with the Irish decision-making process. The European anti-poverty network based in Brussels stated that the Community Workers' Co-operative is an important part of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland and is also well known with anti-poverty NGOs who are active at European level. The withdrawal of its core funding is a matter of grave concern and will weaken the voice of those experiencing poverty, exclusion and inequality in Irish society and in Irish policy making. Of the ten anti-poverty networks, only the funding of the Community Workers' Co-operative was axed and the other nine have come out in support of the Community Workers' Co-operative saying it has played a central role in the development of community work in Ireland for more than 20 years, initiating much of the new thinking in community work and supporting hundreds of local community organisations fighting poverty.

At local level the Community Workers' Co-operative plays a central role in supporting the participation of the community sector in local partnership. At national level it provides a voice for hundreds of groups fighting poverty, which are not otherwise represented. It also provides a co-ordination and support role for the rest of the anti-poverty networks at national level. All ten anti-poverty networks work with their respective membership on the ground supporting their work. The last assessment of the Community Workers' Co-operative acknowledged that it is unique in that its work goes way beyond its membership and supports hundreds if not thousands of other groups working against poverty. The provision of quality information, policy analysis, strategy guides, resources and training are invaluable to thousands of local groups struggling to work against poverty.

These groups are outraged at the negative impact closure of the community workers' co-operative will have on their work. I have pages of statements from community workers praising the work of the community workers co-operative and describing the vital role it plays. The decision by the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to axe this funding has been described by one group as a sinister move to silence an effective critical voice. The Minister of State has referred to the overlap with the work of other organisations but has failed to give a single example of this as none exist.

Such work is not done by any other organisation. Any organisation mentioned by the Minister of State is a member of the CWC and relies on it for much of its work output. The funding of €150,000 per year is not much but it is a significant amount to the CWC. This is core funding and its withdrawal may mean the demise of the community workers' co-operative. The process by which this decision was made must be questioned and there was no consultation with the organisation. Were evaluation and assessment reports of other networks considered in the decision? It seems not, as the CWC has consistently performed well, particularly in respect of anti-poverty focus. Were others renowned for their work in the field of anti-poverty work consulted? I do not know, but as witnessed by statements such as that by Helen Johnson of the Combat Poverty Agency or from the European Anti-Poverty network, it does not seem so.

It appears there is political vetting of community work. The Government does not appear to like what this organisation says or its ability to bring together diverse groups who have experience of poverty to work collectively, such as the co-ordination of the community platform, which is a network of 25 national anti-poverty and equality organisations. The withdrawal of funding to this group is inexplicable. I ask the Minister to reconsider the withdrawal of this vital funding.

See this speech in context