Minister Carey's comments on the budget and 10% cut to Dept funding

The overall reduction in the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs budget for 2011 will be of the order of 10%.

For more information on the budget cuts, click here for Minister Pat Carey's statement on the four-year plan.

This is what he had to say about funding under the following sub-head:

Developing Communities

"There will continue to be an emphasis on the prioritisation of front-line services and supports to customers and beneficiaries at the expense of administration, overheads and ancillary costs."

"My Department will shortly commence a structured dialogue with the Community & Voluntary Sector with the aim of ensuring that the impact of any budgetary adjustments to the services provided by the Sector are minimised, as far as possible. To this end, my Department will be working with the sector to achieve greater consolidation, coordination and efficiencies among service providers."

For more download the document via the link (above in the text).

DAIL DEBATE ON STATUS OF CDPs (Nov 3rd)

A Dail debate on the "Status of Community Development Projects' (click here for the report) took place on November 3rd, in the run-up to the budget.

In the debate, Minister Pat Carey responded to questions from Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton, FG's Frank Feighan and Labour's Jack Wall and the Minister indicated that staff in CDPs should not fear losing their jobs, that the focus was on frontline services. He said the Local and Community Development Programme would "enhance" community development activity across the State and argued that it would not lead to a reduction in such activity.

For more information on 'Where CDPs now stand' read our blog posting from last week.

The Local & Community Development Programme (LCDP)

The Local & Community Development Programme (LCDP) is managed by POBAL on behalf of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. It forms part of the National Development Plan 2007 -2013.

The Programme is an amalgamation of two former programmes, Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the Community Development Programme.

AIM: The LCDP aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership between Government and people in the most disadvantaged communities.

PROGRAMME GOALS: There are four key goals under LCDP.

• GOAL 1: Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services;

• GOAL 2: Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural activities and resources

• GOAL 3: Increase in people’s work readiness and employment prospects

• GOAL 4: Promote engagement with policy, practice, and decision-making processes on matters affecting local communities

‘Changing Ireland’/www.changingireland.ie is the national magazine for the Programme. It is setting up as an independent company, having for the past 9 years being managed by the voluntary board of management of the CDN Moyross Ltd.

We will shortly be publishing a map showing the distribution of companies nationwide within the Programme.

For more on CDPs and their place within the Programme, check our earlier blog entry.

Where CDPs now stand

The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) was instigated at the beginning of this year and most CDPs – we don’t yet know the final tally – are on schedule to amalgamate their work with that of the Local Development Company in their area by year’s end.

At the same time, quite a number of projects proposed alternative models and negotiated successfully in a number of instances with the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The 2011-2014 budget is of course going to impact on funding for the LCDP. The extent of the cut has not been published, but an overall cut of €8.7m is planned under the subheading 'Developing Communities' (which includes funding towards the Programme, volunteering initiatives and "supports for the community and voluntary sector").

Meanwhile most of the 160 CDPs are on course to fully or partially amalgamate with the Local Development Company in their area/county, with the following exceptions applying:

13 SPECIAL PROJECTS

From the outset, 13 projects with special responsibility, national roles or providing unique services were allowed to continue independently. ‘Changing Ireland’ was among them and is the only one that needed to establish itself as an independent not-for-profit company, which it is doing. Other examples include the Men’s Development Network.

5 CORK AND KERRY PROJECTS

In counties Cork and Kerry, where there are over 20 CDPs, five of them are moving to HSE funding and will not be part of the LCDP, but will continue in existence.

DUBLIN’S INNER CITY

In Dublin, where funding was withdrawn to the Dublin Inner City Partnership and amalgamation therefore became impossible, the CDPs will continue to operate with direct support and funding from the LCDP via Pobal.

SIX IN LIMERICK

Six CDPs in Limerick city are amalgamating to become one company, to be known in future as Limerick City CDP.

Note: Documentation on how the plan to amalgamate Limerick CDPs was published on our website during the summer.

17 WOMEN’s CDPs

17 Women’s CDPs are amalgamating and will operate as one company under the LCDP.

(For more on this, you can read Elva O’ Callaghan’s account in the upcoming edition of ‘Changing Ireland’, out in a matter of days. Elva works with the National Women’s Collective which is central to the merger).

TRAVELLER CDPs

The Traveller CDP Network (representing 17 Traveller CDPs) has recently submitted revised proposals for integration of Traveller CDPs within the LCDP. Two different alternative models are proposed and the Traveller Network has asked that both are given equal consideration. It is expected that a decision will be made on the preferred model shortly.

OTHER CDPs

A small number of (mostly large) CDPs, many of whom receive 85% or more of their funding from sources other than the LCDP may continue to operate, though under new arrangements (still being negotiated) as part of the LCDP.

INDEPENDENT CDPs

Some projects have declined to become part of the Programme and will continue on independently as local community development projects.

A full list of where each CDP is now, depending on the path chosen, will be published in the next edition of ‘Changing Ireland’.

ISLAND CDPs

We are still gathering information relating to island CDPs and will update you when we have news.

CAPTION: Our map shows the national spread of State-funded CDPs in 2006. Click to enlarge.

DAIL DEBATE ON 'STATUS OF CDPs' (Nov 3rd)

For a November 3rd debate in the Dail on the "Status of Community Development Projects' (click here for the report).

Minister Pat Carey responded that day to questions from Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton, FG's Frank Feighan and Labour's Jack Wall. At that stage, three CDPs were going it alone and were not joining the Local and Community Development Programme.

The Minister argued with the opposition party TDs saying the Programme would result in "enhanced" community development across the State and would not see a decline in such activity.

He further said that CDP staff should not worry about losing their jobs and said the emphasis was on frontline services such as they deliver: "I recognise the concerns of those who may feel their jobs are under threat. They are not. The people key to this are the recipients of the services and the volunteers driving it."

Limerick CDPs' alternative model - details published here

CDPs across the country are currently integrating into the Local and Community Development Programme and some have sought to win approval for an alternative structure that better suits their communitys' needs.

The Limerick model for setting up a Citywide CDP, as looked on favourably by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs is now available online (click here). The document gives details of the proposed new voluntary management structure and may be of interest to projects in other parts of the country considering their options.

The Limerick model proposes “that instead of ‘integrating’ Partnerships and CDP’s in Limerick city, CDPs are amalgamated into one “City CDP” thus retaining local voluntary involvement with real responsibility and a continued say in decisions affecting their community.”

Limerick CDPs are aiming to “ensure that the LCDP is delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible with the maximum participation and buy in from volunteers engaged over the years on CDP management committees.”

In Cork, CDPs have developed another alternative in co-operation with the HSE, while Women’s CDPs and Traveller CDPs are also understood to be at advanced stages in working out with the Department how a different model could work for their CDPs and their communities’ needs.

In most parts of the country, CDPs are being absorbed into Local Development Companies (aka Partnerships) and many if not most of them are likely to close down as companies.

An alternative model proposed by Donegal CDP’s was not accepted by the Department.

The Department have been clear that they want savings made in the areas of staff, HR, audit, administration and legal bills.

LATEST - Minister says CDPs and Partnerships should "look to the future" within the LCDP

The Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, has said that Community Development Projects and Local Development Companies (aka Partnerships) have “nothing to fear” from the new LCDP model of integration which is being applied to the sector.

The Minister today issued a statement acknowledging "the incredible work" being done by CDPs and LDCs and said everything he was doing was about maintaining services:

"Despite the tone of some coverage of the redesign of community/local development programmes and integration strategy, those involved in community development have absolutely nothing to fear from the new model. It is all about ensuring that frontline services are maintained and that the important services currently being provided continue to play a vital role in strengthening our most disadvantaged and marginalised communities.”

On Monday, Minister Carey told ‘Changing Ireland’ in an interview to be published in our upcoming magazine:

“My view is it would be better for all the citizens of this country, who are recipients of the services, and be in everybody’s interest if people (meaning projects) said let’s knuckle down and work out how we’re going to develop this process for the next number of years and how we’re going to do it.

“It is too easy to do this year what we did last year and the year before. We have always got to be really smart intellectually in what we’re doing.

“I believe in Community Development as a vehicle for change, but I don’t believe that vehicle can’t be changed, modified.

In today’s statement, Minister Carey urged CDPs and LDCs to "look to the future" and insisted that the Programme redesign was in line with best international practice and had nothing to do with the closing of CDPs or the cessation of the essential services they provide to communities nationwide.

"I acknowledge the incredible work carried out by CDPs and LDCs but communities change and the challenges faced by communities change. Accordingly our approach to those challenges must change. We need to look to the future."

The DCEGA has set out a national model involving full integration of CDPs with local development companies (LDCs), but the Minister (as stated in our blog report yesterday) has made it clear that other options have been considered and that it is not a question of 'one size fits all'. Alternative models are required to meet a range of criteria, including a reduction in the number of structures, promoting the potential for integrated delivery of services to the public, supporting efficiencies and reducing the burden of company law compliance for CDPs.

"The only unacceptable option is one that seeks to preserve the status quo and some models proposed by CDPs and other parties since the launch of the LCDP have been rejected on that basis,” said the Minister.

His statement today said that unless a project has received provisional approval from the Department for an alternative LCDP integration model, groups are required to submit their plans for full integration by today, June 30^th.

He had earlier left the door just slightly ajar telling ‘Changing Ireland’ he might allow for “injury time” while stressing that the deadline was at the same time not being extended.

"May I take this opportunity to reassure all concerned that my focus remains firmly on ensuring that scarce resources are targeted at the most vulnerable communities through optimising our efforts and resources at the front-line,” added Minister Carey.

He also drew attention to an often overlooked element of the last budget:

"It should also be noted that funding for community development projects for 2010 has been ringfenced and maintained at 2009 levels. In few other areas of public spending has it been possible to do this."

COMMENTS WELCOME (click on 'Comments' below here)!

PERSONAL ABUSE IS A NO-NO. PRAISE, COMMENT AND CRITICISM OF POLICY OR APPROACH IS COOL. GIVE YOUR NAME IF POSSIBLE, OR CLICK THE ‘ANONYMOUS’ KEY.

Minister Carey - on Travellers, Women, national organisations, the Department's new strength, cuts

As promised in Tuesday’s blog entry, here’s more from our ‘Changing Ireland’ interview with the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey.

The scheme for funding National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector is now coming to the end of its three-year cycle but the signs are positive that it will be continued under Minister Pat Carey.

The Minister and his officials are meanwhile aware and working to deal with particular concerns of Women’s CDPs and Traveller CDPs as part of the emerging Local and Community Development Programme.

The Minister noted that the media had written-off his Department earlier this year and couldn’t have got it more wrong as it has doubled in size.

“The new Department will be a serious, policy-driven department. There’s a huge amount of expertise here. I think this Department will be quite a significant crucible for ideas,” he said.

Here are some further extracts from the interview:

Editor, Allen Meagher: Would your intention be that the scheme for funding National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector would continue?

Minister Pat Carey: “I don’t want to anticipate anything, but I’ve to be honest, it’s an approach that worked very well. I started the process of (funding for) a three-year (period). You need that.”

Editor: So you would hope to have another similar scheme?

Minister: “I would yes. I’m satisfied from dealing with it. But there’s a review going on because there could be new emerging needs and there might be very valid new groups out there who aren’t getting a half-penny (yet).”

Editor, Allen Meagher: With regard to the LCDP, is there any special provision being made for Traveller CDPs. I understand there’s an issue for them with Partnership boards that don’t generally have Traveller representatives?

Minister: “I’ve met with the main Traveller organisations and my view is that a model will be developed which will address the concerns and the needs of the Traveller community.”

Editor: And how about Women’s CDPs?

Minister: “The same thing.”

Editor: Will Gaeltacht CDPs be going in under Udaras?

Minister: “A small number, maybe.”

Would you agree that the Community Sector has been disproportionately cut, as claimed in research published today?

“I don’t want to anticipate the next budget.”

The Sunday Business Post suggested that communities are in for bigger cuts than other areas?

“This Department (of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs ) was three months ago due to be abolished, it’s now doubled in size so I wouldn’t pay a huge amount of attention to that.”

THAT’S IT FOR NOW! THE FULL INTERVIEW WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE UPCOMING PRINT EDITION OF ‘CHANGING IRELAND’.

COMMENTS WELCOME (click on 'Comments' below here)!

PERSONAL ABUSE IS A NO-NO. PRAISE, COMMENT AND CRITICISM OF POLICY OR APPROACH IS COOL. GIVE YOUR NAME IF POSSIBLE, OR CLICK THE ‘ANONYMOUS’ KEY.

INTERVIEW - Minister Carey says 'no' to national forum proposal, but 'yes' to some local proposals

‘Changing Ireland’ interviewed Minister Pat Carey yesterday on a range of topics, including a key question over changing structures for State support for communities within the framework of the Local and Community Development Programme.

A lot of people had pinned hopes on the new Minister taking fully on board proposals coming from the ground up and initial comments by the Minister at events in Cork and Kerry recently were promising.

Many voluntary boards of Community Development Projects and some Partnership companies were hoping he would give the ‘ok’ for Service Level Agreements (SLA) between CDPs and other agencies. It would have meant that staff could remain employed by the same board of local volunteers and would not have to transfer to join the staff of the larger Partnership companies.

However, while the Minister didn’t rule out SLAs entirely, he yesterday said each proposal would be judged on its own merits, area-by-area.

Two SLA proposals involving roughly a dozen projects in both Limerick city and Cork city and county have already been accepted.

However, communities in Galway, Youghal, Tipperary and Donegal (among others) have had SLA proposals rejected.

And nationally, the Minister yesterday rejected the idea of allowing CDPs countrywide to enter into SLAs, as proposed by the National Community Development Forum.

The deadline for submitting ‘integration plans’ or alternatives proposals is officially tomorrow, June 30^th. However, the Minister has left the door ajar, just about.

Here’s how he handled the question over SLAs. The interviewer was Allen Meagher:

Interviewer: The Service Level Agreement model has been pushed by a good number of CDPs and by the National Community Development Forum. Is that something that you view favourably?

Minister: It could work in some circumstances but not in all.

Interviewer: Can you explain what those circumstances are?

Minister: No, because.. (cut off by interviewer).

Interviewer: I know Cumann na nDaoine CDP in Youghal put in a proposal.

Minister: If you’re talking about one size fits all, what might apply in A-Community might not apply in B-Community.

…I’m not prepared to say here and now ‘yeah, that’ll be grand’. It’s going down to the one size fits all.

Interviewer: Your officials have rejected most SLA proposals to date (apart from the Limerick model and the Cork model). Might one be accepted in the future?

Minister: It’s possible yes.

Interviewer: There’s a June 30th deadline. This interview is taking place 2 days before that deadline. Are you willing to extend that deadline?

Minister: No, I need some clarity about where we’re going to go.

Interviewer: If somebody did come along next week and proposed (an alternative) would it be too late?

Minister: We can apply injury time.

OTHER QUESTIONS WE PUT TO THE MINISTER INCLUDED:

1) Are special arrangements being made for Traveller CDPs and for Women’s CDPs?

2) Are FRCs next in line for absorption into the Local and Community Development Programme?

3) What hopes has the Minister for his new and stronger Department?

4) Will the Minister accept that the cuts to the Community Sector are disproportionate, as a report by Brian Harvey suggests? The story was the page one lead in yesterday’s Irish Examiner.

5) What’s the story on support for community groups on the ground in inner-city Dublin where the Dublin Inner City Partnership has been closed down?

6) Relating to Shell’s work in North Mayo, had the Minister a view on the imprisonment of campaigner and trawler fisherman Pat O’Donnell?

7) We also asked the Minister about the role of the Centre for Effective Services.

MORE IN OUR NEXT BLOG ENTRY… TOMORROW.

AND THE FULL INTERVIEW WILL BE PUBLISHED IN OUR NEXT PRINT EDITION OF ‘CHANGING IRELAND’, DUE OUT LATER THIS MONTH.

COMMENTS WELCOME (click on 'Comments' below here)!

PERSONAL ABUSE IS A NO-NO. PRAISE, COMMENT AND CRITICISM OF POLICY OR APPROACH IS COOL. GIVE YOUR NAME IF POSSIBLE, OR CLICK THE ‘ANONYMOUS’ KEY.

28 pages of news, debate and updates - OUR LATEST EDITION!

Yes, the latest 'Changing Ireland' is out and it features:
- 6 pages of Sector news
- A Community Work report from Palestine
- Volunteering while unemployed
- New Programme: news, debate & updates on the new Local and Community Development Programme
- Social Enterprise Offers A Real Solution for Ireland

- An interview with former Community Minister Eamon O'Cuiv
- Plus letters to our agony uncle Help Me Horace!
HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT? ANY STORY IDEAS FOR OUR SUMMER EDITION?
THANKS TO everyone who contributed to the current edition and to those who suggested ideas and/or critical advice.

Letter from 42 academics in support of CDPs.

This letter was published in today's Irish Times.

The topic will also be discussed tonight (Wednesday) on Vincent Browne's show on TV3.

=======================================

In the midst of all the coverage of cutbacks and the forthcoming budget, one major proposal has received very little attention. This is the intention of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to wind down and close all 182 community development projects (CDPs) across the most disadvantaged communities in the State. The department intends to close CDPs deemed “unviable” immediately, and to ask those deemed “viable” to voluntarily close and be incorporated into a larger centralised structure, run by Local Development Social Inclusion Partnership companies (LDSIP). This move will dispense with CDP voluntary management committees, will accommodate only some existing fulltime staff, but will redeploy the resources and funding generated by local communities into centralised LDSIPs. It is claimed that this “amalgamation” will give rise to cost efficiencies, but what is more cost efficient than volunteers who work for nothing in managing local resource centres, programmes, staff and funding?

CDPs provide an extraordinary range of programmes including childcare, support for those with disabilities, Travellers and older people. They are run by voluntary boards composed of local people who know and understand the needs of their own communities; these boards are demonstrably cost-effective and very well managed. Moreover, every euro allocated to them by the department has been matched by funding obtained from other sources.

We believe that the agenda behind this proposal has little to do with cost savings but much to do with the dislike in certain quarters for an innovative programme which has given a direct and effective voice to local communities to decide on their own needs and priorities.

Under the proposed arrangements, voluntary boards will lose their role and be obliged to hand over the fruits of their work and fundraising to organisations at a remove from communities, where the vital local voice will no longer be heard.

The CDP programme as it stands is a shining example of self-empowerment and active, ethical citizenship and directly benefits those individuals and communities who did not enjoy the benefits of the Celtic Tiger and who are suffering disproportionately now.

We call on Minister Éamon Ó Cuív and on Minister for State John Curran to abandon this proposal and to guarantee the funding and autonomy of the CDP programme. It is needed now more than ever. – Yours, etc,

Prof KATHLEEN LYNCH, UCD;

Prof BRYAN FANNING, UCD;

Prof ANNE RYAN, NUIM;

Prof PAT O’CONNOR, UL;

Prof PEADAR KIRBY, UL;

Prof TOM LODGE, UL;

Prof ALASTAIR CHRISTIE, UCC;

Prof PATRICIA COUGHLAN, UCC;

RONNIE DORNEY, HSE South;

BARRY MURRAY, HSE South;

DENIS BARRETT, City of Cork VEC;

DENISE CHARLTON, Immigrant Council of Ireland;

NIALL CROWLEY, Independent equality expert;

Sr STANISLAUS KENNEDY, Focus Ireland;

SIOBHAN O’DONOGHUE, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland;

AILBHE SMYTH, Equality Rights Alliance;

Dr ANNE MacFARLANE, NUIG;

Dr ANASTASIA CRICKLEY, NUIM;

Dr BRÍD CONNOLLY, NUIM;

HILARY TIERNEY, NUIM;

Dr MARY GILMARTIN, NUIM;

Dr HILARY TOVEY, TCD;

Dr ELIZABETH KIELY, UCC;

Dr DENIS LINEHAN, UCC;

PIARAS Mac ÉINRÍ, UCC;

Dr CIARÁN McCULLAGH, UCC;

ROSIE MEADE, UCC;

Dr ORLA O’DONOVAN, UCC;

TOM O’CONNOR, Cork Institute of Technology;

Dr COLM O’DOHERTY, Institute of Technology Tralee;

Dr KIERAN ALLEN, UCD;

JOHN BAKER, UCD;

Dr ROLAND ERNE, UCD;

Dr ALICE FELDMAN,UCD;

Dr STEVEN LOYAL, UCD;

Dr ANDY STOREY, UCD;

Dr EOIN DEVEREUX, UL;

Dr BREDA GRAY, UL;

BRIAN KEARY, UL;

Dr ORLA McDONNELL, UL;

MARY O’DONOGHUE, UL &

Dr TINA O’TOOLE UL,

C/o School of Languages, Literature, Culture Communication, University of Limerick.