HUNDREDS OF people who work in community projects such as family resource centres and drugs task forces will march on the Dáil on Wednesday to protest against the current and proposed cuts to their sector.
The Communities against Cuts campaign represents thousands of workers who provide services to children, the elderly, disabled, recovering drug addicts, Travellers, young people and women in poor neighbourhoods.
David Connolly, chairman of the campaign, said the McCarthy report proposals, if implemented, would result in the loss of more than 6,500 jobs in the sector.
“The implications for services and communities are real and devastating,” he said. “Projects that deliver vital childcare, youth support, drug rehabilitation, education, training, literacy programmes and community development will have to cut services and many will face closure as the result of the government cutbacks and the McCarthy proposals.”
Mr Connolly said cuts would end up costing the State more in the long run. “For every €1 that is spent on quality childcare, the State saves €10. For every €1 spent on drug rehabilitation the State saves €3,” he said.
Research conducted on behalf of the Ballyfermot/Chapelizod Partnership by TSA Consultancy has found that almost 4,000 people in the Ballyfermot Partnership area would no longer receive services from community organisations if the proposed McCarthy cuts were implemented.
It found that 68 jobs would be lost in the area if the recommended cuts to family resource centres, community development programmes and drugs task forces were fully implemented.
More than 60 per cent of the projects surveyed said they could be forced to close if the proposed cuts were implemented.
Wednesday’s march has been organised by a coalition of community sector groups with the Siptu and Impact trade unions. It will begin at Parnell Square, Dublin at 1pm before marching to the Dáil.
