Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis an cheist seo a phlé. Ar fud an Stáit, tá cruinnithe ag dul ar aghaidh. Tá an mhuintir atá ag obair ar na scéimeanna fostaíochta pobail agus iad san atá ag baint tairbhe astu ag na cruinnithe sin, cruinnithe atá íontach mór. Tá daoine ag cur in iúil do pholaiteoirí ó gach cearn den saol polaitíochta an tábhacht atá ins na scéimeanna seo, agus ag iarraidh a chur in iúil dúinn go gcuirfidh sé deireadh le cuid mhór des na scéimeanna fostaíochta pobail má théann na ciorraithe seo i bhfeidhm.

Agus mé ag éisteacht leis an méid a bhí ráite ag daoine ó Fhine Gael agus ón Lucht Oibre is léir go ndeachaigh na cruinnithe sin i bhfeidhm orthu. There is no doubt, having listened to the contributions made over the past two nights, that at least some of what was said at the meetings across the country on this issue, which many of us attended, has had an impact on Fine Gael and Labour Party backbenchers. It is clear that there is a demand across both sides of the House for these cuts to be reversed. However, the test will be at 9 p.m. when Members will have to vote for or against these cuts.

People working on the front line know more about CE schemes than any of us here. Many of them are in the Visitors Gallery. They have come here from Donegal, Rathcoole, Clondalkin, Drogheda, Dundalk, Blanchardstown and other areas - many others could not come here because of the meeting tonight in relation to supervisors - to demand that this Parliament take action on behalf of communities and those operating and participating in CE schemes.

I have listened to the Government talk time and again about the importance of protecting our communities and creating employment. When one puts these two phrases together, one gets community employment. However, the first action by this Government in relation to community employment is to cut it by 66%. How can anyone believe employment and communities are a priority for this Government? The Minister has told us that the saving to the State as a result of these cuts will be €27.5 million. We have heard from many backbenchers in the Labour Party that everything needs to be cut until we sort out the mess we are in. Yesterday, Deputy Adams learned from NAMA that the legal bill for approximately ten or 12 major legal firms in this State which provided legal advice to it over the past 24 months was a staggering €27.5 million, the same amount which is being cut from 1,143 CE schemes and their 22,000 participants. Who should be cut if one prioritises community and employment? Is it the 12 legal firms which are being paid €3 million plus per year or the 22,000 participants on CE schemes who need help from the State? The answer should be obvious to every Member who has an active conscience.

The Minister told us that she listens to expert advice, that she cannot disregard the type of research and advice given to her and that she takes seriously what researchers say and that such research questioned the value of CE schemes. However, the Minister was selective in terms of the research which she chose to offer this Chamber last night. She used research from the OECD which was critical of CE schemes. She did not refer to other serious and well thought out research such as that carried out by Professor Tony Fahey and Dr. Michelle Norris from UCD or the Combat Poverty Agency, which recognises the true value of CE schemes. It states: "The Community Employment scheme is a core element of much of the area-based social provision now in place in Ireland and its contribution in that regard should be more clearly recognised and incorporated into the rationale for providing it and the bases on which it is evaluated."

I do not have much time but will conclude on this point. These cuts will devastate communities and I note 68 sponsors are located in my native county of Donegal. People argue that one cannot simply call for a reversal of the cuts to the scheme in this House but instead must offer solutions and other ways in which the money can be found. Sinn Féin has done this repeatedly in its pre-budget submission but I will offer Members one other suggestion in conclusion. This time last year, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, stood here on the Opposition benches. She is the iron lady of the Irish Republic now, the person who has gone after community employment schemes in an attempt to dismantle and break them. She is the person who went after mothers when she cut child benefit and is the person who went after the young and disabled. Last year, however, when responding in this Chamber to Fianna Fáil's cuts to social welfare, she stated "some €805 million is to be paid to bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank next week".

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