Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Having listened to the comments made by Senator Mansergh, perhaps the Labour Party should start a recruitment drive for new members in the Seanad.

I support the Fine Gael motion and condemn the cutbacks that have already taken place, including those in my own community in Lucan and Clondalkin. I agree with the view that the cutbacks will have a detrimental effect on the employment prospects of lone parents, people with disabilities and older people who could participate in these schemes. It is difficult for the many people concerned to obtain mainstream employment. There is also the fact that these schemes operate in the local community and the type of work they provide is attractive because it does not involve travelling, which is important in terms of encouraging people back into the workforce.

The cutbacks have already resulted in a terrible loss to the community in terms of the provision of employment, the self-esteem of those participating in them and the services provided. Community centres in my local area have been affected and the community council's tidy towns scheme has been cut while the jobs situation is less certain. Instead of increases in funding we are experiencing cutbacks in local government services and it is not feasible for much of the work done to be taken up by the social economy programme.

I agree with the prioritising of schemes in RAPID areas but my own area of Lucan, which is a largely new community, needs these types of schemes to provide local services and build up the community in the area.