David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Last week, the Leader and I attended a meeting of community and voluntary organisations in Waterford city. We heard at first hand the impact that cuts are having on many community organisations. That has been quantified by a report, which was published by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, on downsizing the community sector. It shows the true extent of those cuts. While we have seen on average a 2.82% cut in public spending across the board, the community sector on average has seen a cut of 35% and by the end of 2013 we will see 11,000 more jobs lost in that sector. It is not only about job losses, but the services that are being curtailed and will be lost, for example, meals on wheels for older people, community child care, youth work and drug prevention work, all of which are under threat because of cuts to funding. The Leader was at that meeting where he heard from people who are benefiting from all the schemes provided by community development projects and voluntary organisations. I ask him to arrange a debate to discuss this report. It quantifies the cuts and shows in very stark terms the imbalance in how they are disproportionately affecting community and voluntary sector organisations, which are primarily aimed at disadvantaged communities. This shows disadvantaged communities are suffering most from the cuts.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate so that we may discuss the importance of the community and voluntary sector.