Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I fully support the motion. As has been said by others, the community and voluntary sector delivers services which, in many cases, the Government cannot or will not provide. Over the past number of years services have been handed over to the community sector by the Government which has abdicated its responsibility to provide such services.

During the course of the recession the community and voluntary sector has been penalised to a great extent through cutbacks. A couple of years ago the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs was told to cut spending by 2% but cut community funding by over 20% to achieve it. It had a very negative impact on the community and voluntary sector.

The programme for Government committed to protecting the most vulnerable in everything the Government does but cuts disproportionately affect community and voluntary organisations and have an extremely negative impact on the quality of life of people dependent on the services. It is vitally important that the Government recognises the importance of the community and voluntary sector, strengthens it and makes it largely immune from the cutbacks that are taking place.

It is depressing to note the amendment tabled by the Government constantly refers to philanthropy which is expected to pick up the slack. It is not the case. Nothing will compensate for secure funding for the community and voluntary sector. I appeal to the Government to target funding and, as mentioned in the motion, decide to have multi-annual planning over three to five years. It should give the community and voluntary sector some sense of security in order that it can continue to provide services and in the long run savings will be achieved by the Government.

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