Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last October, Pobal published on its website details of the funding that was available in different lots under the social inclusion and community activation programmes. It seemed that the level of cuts being proposed was 10% in rural areas, 20% in urban areas and 38% in areas of inner-city Dublin. This 38% cut will affect communities of extreme deprivation, which have rates of unemployment much higher than the national average, high numbers of lone families and issues presented by the new communities. I am talking about areas of greater disadvantage than other parts of the country. Even though progress is being made with educational attainment, progression to third level in these areas is much lower than in the rest of the country. These areas have lost the public private partnerships and the regeneration it was hoped would result from such partnerships. This 38% cut will affect community organisations that are offering community training and education, working with lone-parent families, providing affordable child care and working with people in addiction. I will give an example of the new realities with which these organisations are dealing. A cheap synthetic drug known as ice that came on the market recently has led to a number of deaths. The community organisations are responding to those issues as they arise.

For some reason, the Government has decided to go ahead with private procurement of the social inclusion programmes. This could have devastating effects because of the loss of expertise and experience. The 38% cut I have mentioned will be also devastating. I would like to mention a particular statistic that has been highlighted by these groups. They have said that more than 2,500 people - long-term unemployed adults, vulnerable adults, lone parents and those in recovery - could be affected by service changes in the areas of adult education and training and pre-employment support. The Minister, Deputy Kelly, has committed to the retention of community services through the social inclusion community activation programme with a loss of €1.7 million. When it is added up, it seems to be nearer to €9 million. The groups were promised that they would see the rationale allocation model. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that will happen. How can these community organisations proceed and make progress if they are to face cuts of 38%?

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