Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister agrees the community employment schemes are of great benefit to those who work in them, serve the people well and provide a significant social dividend. With much of the cost-saving measures that the Government is trying to implement like local government reform, it is more about saving money than actually reforming. I have had several schemes in Wexford on to me stating they really could not suffer another cut in funding. They now have to fund-raise to survive. One cannot put a price on the social dividend that community projects like this provide for the State. It would be a false economy on the part of the Government to cut the schemes’ funding in the upcoming budget. Not only would it be socially damaging but it would also be economically damaging in the long term. It is important the Minister does not allow any cuts to the schemes.

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