Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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In the words of the Government's White Paper, the community and voluntary sector "contributes to a democratic pluralist society, provides opportunities for the development of decentralised and participative structures and fosters a climate in which the quality of life can be enhanced for all". It is clear that it plays an important role. The sector operates from the ground up and is strongly represented in areas where unemployment is high and State services and infrastructure are low. This is the case in areas of Tallaght, which is the Acting Chairman's area, and in many areas in my constituency of Dublin Central.

It is estimated that the sector employs approximately 50,000 people and delivers a wide range of vital programmes, including child care, care of the elderly, disability services, health care, social inclusion, homelessness services, skills training, family supports, drug rehabilitation, homework clubs and sporting activities. Without a vibrant voluntary and community sector, the bonding in society would erode very rapidly and we would end up with conflict and chaos. It is what keeps society together not only in the good times, but particularly in the bad times when there are pressures and people find it difficult to makes ends meet.

Over the past two years, the voluntary and community sector has suffered disproportionately from Government cuts. In 2009, funds for those essential services decreased by 8%. In 2010, the decrease was even worse at 10%. Already, local projects have suffered from redundancies, pay cuts and reduced services. It is estimated that by the end of 2010 there will be more than 5,000 job losses in the sector. With savage cuts in the two most recent budgets and four more years of austerity budgets to come to try to reach the 3% deficit target, the immediate future is very black indeed.

This week, we debated the Labour Party Private Members' motion on fuel poverty and spoke about how the ESB disconnects 2,500 homes every month and how Bord Gáis has disconnected approximately 4,000 homes this year because people cannot afford to pay their energy bills. We also spoke about that fact that while we introduced a carbon tax, we did not provide a corollary fuel poverty strategy whereby the money raised by the State would, to a large extent, be re-injected into the community where it is badly needed.

No wonder the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice today indicated in its new study that a high proportion of Irish families cannot afford the basics required for a minimum standard of living. That is a terrible reflection on us as a country and the manner in which we conduct our business because Ireland is far from a poor country. It is not good enough that we are unable to prevent a sizeable percentage of the people from falling into poverty, homelessness and a situation of hopelessness.

There is a need, more than anything else, to look at why all of these people who are falling through the net, and at the experience of abject poverty and what that entails in feeding a family, keeping a roof, keeping heat, looking after the elder, fuel poverty, education and all of the aspects that bond society. More than anything else, the Government, and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs which is largely responsible for the funding of this sector, should endeavour that this time round there would not be further cuts but that at least we would maintain the current levels of service and funding.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak to this Adjournment matter in the Dáil this evening.

My Department's mandate aims to progress the achievement of an inclusive society with vibrant communities in which families may thrive. Measures to support this are contained in the Government's strategies for social and economic development and social inclusion. The primary role of my Department in the community and voluntary sector is to encourage and facilitate communities, with a special focus on areas of disadvantage, to pursue social and economic progress in their areas. Policy initiatives are underpinned by the Towards 2016 partnership agreement, which recognises the valuable role of the sector. The agreement notes that the great strength of voluntary activity is that it emerges organically from communities and points out that while the Government should not seek to control and be involved in every aspect of voluntary activity, it has a responsibility to provide an enabling framework to help the sector.

To this end, my Department supports a wide range of initiatives that support the work of the sector. In particular, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the following schemes that directly support their operations. Under the scheme for national organisations within the community and voluntary sector, 64 organisations within the sector are supported and funding of the order of €5 million is being provided for the scheme in 2010. My Department has been reviewing the operation and scope of the scheme over the past few months and I will be considering various options in relation to its future in the coming weeks. Funding of €878,000 is also provided to support the sector in its work under partnership.

Encouraging volunteering and supporting active citizenship is also a key part of the work of my Department in this context. To this end, my Department also provides annual funding of the order of €3.4 million to support the work of 22 volunteer centres operating at county level. In 2010, the number of centres funded increased to 22. The Department provides core funding to both Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteering Ireland, both of which promote volunteering nationally.

The role of the sector is widely acknowledged in other areas in my Department, most especially in the ongoing implementation of the national drugs strategy. Under the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, formal protocols are in place to ensure the active participation of the community and voluntary sectors in the work of the Drugs Advisory Group which advises me, as the Minister of State responsible, on operational and policy matters relating to the national drugs strategy. This funding provides for the continued input, expertise and participation of these sectors under the structures applying in delivering on the national drugs strategy.

In addition, my Department provides annual funding to assist Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign support and promote the participation of communities most affected by drugs misuse and is used to facilitate the involvement of communities in the structures and the implementation of the national drugs strategy. Furthermore, as an additional support to communities affected by drugs misuse, annual funding is provided by my Department to the Family Support Network. This funding helps to improve the situation of families coping with drug misuse and to raise public awareness about the associated problems for families and communities.

As the Deputy will be aware, community and voluntary organisations play a significant role in delivering community based drugs initiatives in the 24 drugs task force areas from dedicated funding from my Department. Funding of the order of €36 million is being provided through the Department in 2010 to support the broad range of drugs measures under the strategy.

It is my intention, through the various arrangements, to continue to support the sectors to the greatest extent possible within the limits of the resources available to me in 2011. I draw the Deputy's attention to the Local and Community Development Programme which supersedes the local development social inclusion and community development programmes. A key difference between the new LCDP and its predecessors is the fact that, when fully implemented, it will be delivered nationally on an integrated basis by a reduced number of companies.

A national model involving full integration of community development projects with local development companies has been set out by my Department. However, it was made clear from the start of the process that other options could be considered and I have approved a number of alternative models in recent weeks. Ongoing funding for the programme in 2011 and beyond will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process and will be routed through the local development companies in support of the following 4 goals of the LCDP: to promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services; to increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources; to increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects; and to promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The time is almost up but I am in the hands of the Minister of State.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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This is a detailed reply to the Deputy, if I could finish it.

In the context of the current economic climate, my primary concern will continue to be the protection of front-line services delivering vital programmes and initiatives, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities, whether they are urban or rural.

The Deputy will appreciate that ongoing funding for my Department's programmes for next year, and beyond, will fall to be considered in the context of the upcoming annual Estimates process. He will also appreciate, however, that no area is immune to cost-cutting measures in the current economic environment. Regrettably, this may mean that reduced budget allocations may have to be made to certain measures and programmes next year. I am acutely aware of the concerns of community and voluntary groups in this regard and that is why I have responded to those concerns by placing such emphasis on the protection and prioritisation of front-line services and support to customers and beneficiaries over administration, overhead and ancillary costs.

On the provision of supports to the sector, the Deputy can be assured of the Government's commitment to the development of our communities and our belief that the whole area of community development is central to the social and economic well-being of our nation. Unfortunately, in light of the current economic climate, the sector, like all sectors of the Irish economy, has had to rationalise where possible and operate within reduced budgets.

Across Government as a whole, we are taking a number of difficult decisions but our approach is to do this in as balanced a way as possible. Ensuring a continued positive impact across the community and voluntary sector will be a key part of my Department's work in the coming years.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I suspect many Deputies will be happy that Deputy Costello raised that issue. We got good information from the Minister of State.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I am sure the Acting Chairman can use it in his own work.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I certainly will.