Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter. I also thank the Minister of State for coming in to the House, as he has line responsibility for the subject matter of the motion.

Earlier this year the Minister of State and his departmental officials indicated their intention to modify the community development programme which was created to support and resource local communities during the recession of the 1980s and early 1990s. We are now facing closure, amalgamation or a threat to stop people's community-based activities. Last week the CSO reported that one in seven people was at risk of poverty. I pay tribute to those involved in the community development projects in Ballyphehane, Togher and Mahon. We need development projects based in the community that allow local people to be responsible for and responsive to the needs of their communities. Community projects empower local people.

I understand the Minister of State is centralising the bureaucracy away from local communities at a time when disadvantaged communities need support more than ever. It is a regressive move. If the line indicated in the McCarthy report is taken, it will reduce the number of structures, have an adverse effect on community-run projects and take away what has been built and developed by local voluntary management boards. Members of these boards are not aloof or inanimate; they are living in a community. They are vibrant, know what is happening and have great empathy. The individuals running the boards in Ballyphehane, Togher and Mahon in Cork South-Central are wonderful people, as are the two co-ordinators.

Community development project teams work with people most adversely affected by poverty and their exclusion from efforts to promote development and be an active force will have an impact. They know the needs of their communities. The boards contain volunteers who are being forced to make a choice between funding and autonomy. The Minister of State has made no attempt to allow people to opt or buy in to protect local structures and the assets of the communities that provided them. The McCarthy report proposes a cut in the community development budget which we have seen in today's budget. We are taking responsibility for the budget away from local communities and centralising it, which is wrong. I would like to hear the Minister of State expand on his proposition regarding the integrated structure and the removal of autonomy from local boards.

It is important to pay tribute to community development projects as part of which a range of programmes are provided. They are key playmakers in the social inclusion programme. As the Minister of State knows, there is a geographical spread and the projects are run by voluntary boards, the members of which know what is happening in and know the needs of their communities. They are working with fellow citizens to build sustainable integrated communities, be it in education, anti-poverty, social inclusion, promotion of back to education and literacy programmes. I use the example of the projects based in Ballyphehane, Togher, with which I am familiar, and Mahon. Those involved have a very good grasp and understanding of the needs of local people and have worked to increase the level of participation in the community and promote a sense of belonging. If one attends on any of the prize-giving nights for FETAC or other awards, one will see that there is a great sense of community, a great awareness of what is happening and a great participation rate.

We can talk about the social and economic costs, but we need to communicate with and consult the National Community Development Forum, NCDF, and the Community Workers' Co-operative. We cannot quantify the work being done on the ground. The Minister of State's plans to integrate responsibility need to be slowed down in order that there can be consultation to bring the best of people with us.