Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I ask him to make a statement about future funding under the social intervention fund for Limerick city and the implications for vital community projects.

The economic and social intervention fund for Limerick city was set up under the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan, which set out a programme of physical, social and economic interventions over a ten-year period and is due to end on 31 December. The fund has financially supported 180 social, economic and community development projects across Limerick.

The areas that will be impacted by the loss of this funding include regeneration areas of Ballinacurra Weston, Moyross, Southill and St. Mary’s Park. Projects affected include the Bedford Row Family Project, Limerick Youth Service and Limerick Island Community Partners, serving the King's Island area. The fund also supports Our Lady of Lourdes community centre, the Southill Hub and Moyross groups like Extern and the Moyross Community Enterprise Centre. It has also benefited St. Munchin’s Community Centre. These services are the foundation of the communities they support. Their work is far too important and Limerick cannot afford to lose any of them through a lack of funding.

My party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, my colleague, Maurice Quinlivan, and the Sinn Féin team in Limerick visited St. Mary’s Park, among others, on Friday. People there told us that they had been advised that no further funding was available, they had up to 1,200 individuals dependent on their services and the projects they ran were essential for the local area and individuals, leading to increased confidence and employment of those who would otherwise be left behind. They told us that Limerick City and County Council had acknowledged that the services were too important to lose but had been unable to confirm any funding stream as yet. The council had advised the centre that it should put the staff on notice and that their jobs were now at risk. This affects 12 individuals in full- and part-time work whose positions are dependent on this scheme. If funding is not sourced by February, it is likely that the centre will have to close down. It will no longer be able to support interventions in one of the most deprived areas of the State.Numerous parliamentary questions have been raised with the Minister by Deputy Quinlivan seeking assurances around the continuation of funding for the various community centres, projects, groups and clubs that currently depend on this funding. Responses from the Minister stating that the Department is awaiting a response from Limerick City and County Council on seeking alternative funding sources are concerning.

We are six weeks away from the funding cliff edge. Staff are worried they will have no jobs in the new year and it is causing so much stress waiting for clarity on their future. The staff are not just worried about their own jobs. They are genuinely worried about the loss of services to the community they care so passionately about. These are the concerns of just one of the groups we spoke to. There are so many more that will be affected.

This date for the end of funding was set ten years ago. Why has it taken so long for anyone to come up with a plan for alternative sources of funding? I would hate to think that any of these groups or community services will be lost as a result of sheer incompetence or neglect to ensure the stability and funding of community services across Limerick. The regeneration funding might be ending but it must be said the regeneration project is far from being complete. Does the Minister of State have some clarity on the possible sources of funding going forward? Will he give any reassurance to those workers who, even as we speak, have been put under protective notice even and to the communities affected?