Publication of Mid-Term Review imminent

It has been confirmed that a much-anticipated report on the Local and Community Development Programme will be published shortly.

Clodagh McDonnell, Principal Officer with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, stated:

“The Mid-Term Review of the Local and Community Development Programme has been finalised and its recommendations will be taken on board in shaping the new successor programme to the LCDP, subject to funding provision in the upcoming budget, and, mindful, as is usual, of the continuing need for budgetary restraint and discipline.

“The Mid-Term Review is currently in limited circulation among chief stakeholders, including those in the Community and Voluntary Sector. The intention is to publish it post-budget, after October 15^th,” she said.

Thanks to Finbar from Mayo for the above.

The cut to the minimum wage has been widely criticised. The €1 cut equates to 11.5% of salary if you're on the minimum wage.

Business leaders have welcomed the proposal saying it will cuts costs.

However, Fine Gael have said they may revisit the proposal.

Cuts of €35m over 4 years to Dept of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs

Cuts of €35m are planned for the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2011-2014.
The chart below covers some details of the cuts for the coming year, 2011. It comes from the Government's official four-year plan which is downloadable from this page.

The Community Workers Co-op have published a 7-page response to the budget from a Community viewpoint:
http://www.cwc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CWC-Community-Work-Updates-November-2010.pdf

Your opinion?

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Examiner gives front page to 4,500 job cuts in Community Sector

Research work last month by Brian Harvey and IMPACT showed that 4,500 jobs and €80m in cuts could hit disadvantaged communities this year.

The research by Harvey and the trade union received front page coverage in the Irish Examiner on Monday.

'Changing Ireland' asked Minister Pat Carey that very day was he pleased with the coverage and he said he was, but he declined to say whether or not he agreed that cuts to the Community Sector were "disproportionate".

Brian's research shows the Community Sector may lose 4,500 jobs in 2010 and is struggling with 9-10% cuts which is above the average.

The Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project in Cork, Parents Alone Support Services CDP in Dublin and Minister Pat Carey, SIPTU's Gerry Flanagan, independent councilor Cieren Perry and the Community Worker's Co-op's Ann Irwin were among those interviewed for the 2-page spread inside.

Examiner lead story:

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/4500-jobs-at-risk-80m-cut-for-social-schemes-123597.html

Brian’s full report for IMPACT can be downloaded from:

http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/pub/general/HarveyReport2010.pdf

There are online links to the Examiner’s coverage of the 2 CDPs:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/0628/ireland/one-more-cut-and-were-gone-says-lone-parent-group-123539.html#ixzz0sKUbyEOc

AND

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/theres-work-being-done-that-cant-be-measured-on-paper-123538.html#ixzz0sKUQxens

ALSO SEE:

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/community-groups-in-crisis-123537.html

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Poor Can't Pay Campaign launches Video

Some of Ireland’s leading NGO’s and trade unions have joined forces to launch a new campaign called “The Poor Can’t Pay” which aims to mobilise active opposition to proposed cuts to basic social welfare payments or the minimum wage.

The Poor Can't Pay campaign said that people earning the minimum wage or living on social welfare did not cause Ireland's economic crisis and should not be forced to pay the price of the recession.

The campaign was launched as a joint initiative by the following NGO’s and trade unions: Age Action, Barnardos, CORI Justice, EAPN, Focus Ireland, INOU, Mandate, National Women’s Council of Ireland, SIPTU and SVP.