Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 November 2003

Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. - National Drugs Strategy: Motion.

 

10:30 am

Mary Henry (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish to concentrate on that part of the motion calling for a reversal of what it terms "the savage cutbacks" in community employment and jobs initiative schemes and which have reduced the capacity of the voluntary and community sector. Sometimes I wonder if the right hand of the Government knows what the left hand is doing, as there seems to be cutbacks in an area where great successes have been achieved and where departmental reports recommend that such community efforts should be supported. It is sometimes very difficult to see the point of producing some of these reports when it is unclear if the Government, when making its decisions, takes any notice of them.

From my contacts in places like Carmichael House, the voluntary organisations will find the loss of community employment workers to be a serious matter. The Minister knows how important are these organisations to the parts of the city they serve. I understand that at present, approximately 1,000 people on community employment schemes are involved in drugs treatment programmes, counselling or various initiatives, which it is hoped will support the national drugs strategy. I ask the Minister of State to promise that these jobs will be definitely ring-fenced. It is ridiculous to promote the strategy while at the same time removing capable workers who have been shown to be doing a good job.

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