A coalition of community groups in north Dublin has launched a campaign to highlight the effect of cuts to Community Employment (CE) schemes.
The Finglas Community Anti-Cuts Action Group says a report into the effects of falling State funding for the sector shows a series of vital services are either at risk or are being cancelled.
They include the closure of homework clubs for children, a loss of specialised one-to-one services for lone parents, cuts in childcare staff, and the possible closure of a community centre in Rivermount.
The group says CE schemes have been extremely successful in the Finglas area, and points out that between 80 and 90 per cent of participants go on to enter employment. This figure is double the national average for similar schemes elsewhere in the State.
With plans to restructure the scheme and amalgamate some services, the group believes further services may be at risk.
The author of the report, Ms Paula McCann, said the Finglas area, more than most, needed the support of CE schemes.
"Finglas seems to have been forgotten about by political parties. And that sense of abandonment is tangible when you talk to people in the community.
"CE penetrates almost every service that is provided by the voluntary sector. The rate of children leaving school is very high in some areas. But after-school care, for example, is funded by CE. If that goes, the intervention for these vulnerable young children is gone. Then what happens?"
The Finglas Community Anti-Cuts Group's spokesman, Mr Mark Harding, said: "This report launched today indicates what's happening on the ground. There have been significant cuts, in some cases up to 40 per cent. While some have been restored, with the changes being talked about we don't know what is around the corner."
He called on the community to put pressure on politicians to campaign in favour of retaining the service in the run-up to the local elections in June.
However, he said, despite official assurances that the CE scheme will remain intact this year, there were still fears for it in the long-term.
"There is a concern that once the elections are over we'll have further redundancies even though the Government has said there will be not be any changes this year. In the current climate who knows what will happen."
At a meeting of community workers and elected representatives yesterday, Fianna Fáil TD Mr Pat Carey told the group that CE schemes were here to stay, but that they were likely to "evolve" over time.
Labour TD Ms Roisín Shortall said political representatives with access to those in Government must ensure the system is kept intact.
