Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This is one of the most comprehensive motions put before the Dáil in my experience of Private Members' time. It acknowledges the central role played by the community and voluntary sector in keeping our society together in a time of crisis. We have heard much in the current presidential campaign about the importance of the local community and the value of voluntary effort in helping our country to recover from the current recession. This focus on community and on voluntary effort is welcome but it must be more than rhetoric.

Those attempting to develop their communities and those volunteering to do so must be supported in their efforts by Government. Our motion points out the estimated monetary value of their work but the cost to the State and its agencies, if it had to replicate this work, is incalculable. The truth is that no State could replicate this effort, such is its scale. We are all aware of the massive efforts going on throughout our communities to improve quality of life for young and old alike. This deserves more than rhetorical recognition. It needs strategic economic support, which is the oil to help the engine of community effort to run. The fuel is free - that is the enthusiasm and what has been correctly identified as the patriotism of community volunteers across this country.

While different figures are cited, it has been estimated that there are more than 6,000 voluntary and community organisations in Ireland employing almost 55,000 people. In the economic approach of this and the last Government, we see anti-people and anti-community policies. People on low incomes, people dependent on social welfare and those in low paid employment are being hit hardest by the austerity measures. Cruel cuts to social welfare affect children, especially those in low-income families. These are the families who benefit most from community development but this too is subject to cuts.

As a spokesperson for health and children, I will address the child care area. Child care is a vital for many of those who wish to take up employment where it is available or return to education and training but the community child care sector has also been subject to cuts. This was the subject of questions I put to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, in the Dáil on 27 September. I raised the position of many child care workers in the community sector who are on low pay and who do not currently have the right to collective bargaining. I make a particular appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Willie Penrose, for whom I have great respect, to take note of this. I have written to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on this matter. The right to collective bargaining is something that the Labour Party in government should pursue.

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