Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On 10 November last the people voted to enshrine the rights of the child in the Constitution. At the time the Tánaiste said the referendum was an opportunity "to state clearly and unequivocally that we, the Irish people, value children and childhood." That was the rhetoric and we know the reality has been very different. The reality is that the Government, through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, is making cuts to youth services across the State and in Dublin city. These cuts will bite hard and target some of the most disadvantaged communities across the State. The City of Dublin Youth Services Board is proposing cuts, some of them of the magnitude of 14%, in projects across the city. For instance, the SWAN project in the North Wall will lose over €62,000 in funding. Cabra For Youth will have its funding cut, while Ballyfermot Youth Service will lose over €74,000. The Base Youth Service in Ballyfermot will take a significant hit, while the Bradóg Regional Youth Service based in the north-west inner city is facing a massive cut of €65,000. The Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service in Darndale will lose over €122,000.

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