CDPs on the streets again!

CDPs will part in a national SIPTU march tomorrow (September 30th) in Dublin to defend community resources from McCarthy cuts.
For more see: www.siptu.ie/community

NCDF rejects plan to disband CDPs

The voice of the poor is being smothered by the Government as it plans to close down 180 Community Development Projects (CDPs), says the representative body for the projects, the National Community Development Forum (NCDF).
The CDPs’ national body today rejected plans to “integrate” the Community Development Programme with another larger programme, the Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP).
“This scheme will disempower the most marginalised of local communities across Ireland,” said NCDF chairperson Larry McCarthy, himself a volunteer with Le Cheile CDP in Dundalk. “It’s an attack on the poor.”
“This move by Minister Curran will terminate the involvement of 2000 volunteers in deciding a little of what happens in their own communities and that undermines everything that Community Development stands for,” added Mr. McCarthy.
The Minister’s announcement comes hot on the heels of a 15% cut to projects this year and a recommendation in the McCarthy report that €44m be cut from the €72m going to the two programmes. The Community Development Programme costs less than €20m annually and is worth at least three times that figure to local communities when the volunteer input is included and the impact of the work is taken into account.
“Minister Curran hasn’t consulted anyone about this, it’s the top-down-approach. If this and other proposals in the McCarthy report are adopted, I’d have serious concerns about the sustainability of many communities in this country from here on in.
“We would welcome talks with the Minister where he could clarify some of the issues around the lack of consultation with, not alone the CDPs, but the service users," said Mr. McCarthy.
“Community Development is taught at third level, yet we as a country are looking at pulling the plug on the greatest investment by the State in supporting Community Development on the ground. That makes a mockery of the educational element,” added the NCDF statement.
“Our mission is to keep Community Development in Ireland alive and flourishing and the secret of CDPs success is that we’re locally managed and independent. Take that away and you’re dismantling the local social inclusion infrastructure.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN JEOPARDY: Curran plans to integrate CDP and LDSIP programmes

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Minister John Curran intends to “integrate” the Community Development Programme and the Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme (Partnership companies).

He gave no detail on how it would be done but said he wanted to see "a single, redesigned programme in 2010, in the context of the budgetary position.”

The NCDF is meeting tomorrow in Dublin and will respond to the Minister's plans.

'Changing Ireland' has published the relevant excerpts from his speech and press release on its blog at: www.changingireland.blogspot.com

The Community Worker's Co-op has responded as follows:

The Community Workers' Co-operative recognise that the economic situation calls for increased efficiencies in all areas of society including the community sector. However the organisation called on the Minister to stop making decisions behind closed doors and to consult with those operating at community level to ensure that his aim of providing more efficient and streamlined social inclusion services can be achieved.

In a statement, Ann Irwin, CWC National Co-Ordinator said that "those working at a community level know best how services and community work at local level can be optimised. Yet they were not even consulted about this decision to integrate the two programmes. Neither have they been consulted about the 'thorough review' of the CDP that the Minister mentions in his speech and the programme redesign work being carried out by the Centre for Effective Services which is also happening behind closed doors."

Ms Irwin called on the Minister to include those working at grass roots level, and the organisations that represent them, in the major decisions facing the community sector in the near future.

NCDF has now met both Ministers O'Cuiv and Curran

Chairperson of the NCDF, Larry McCarthy, met with Minister of State responsible for Community Affairs, John Curran, a fortnight ago and outlined our case.

Larry made the Minister aware of the pressure on CDPs and the issues facing projects and their volunteers that are within his control and called for an end to any more cutbacks on community projects.

Minister Curran had seemed reluctant to meet the forum.

However, now both the senior and junior ministers in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs have met with the NCDF.

The next meeting of the NCDF is on Sept 23rd.

Anything that should be on the agenda, let us know in the comment section below (by name or anonymously) or tell your regional rep on the NCDF.

WRITE NOW! DON'T WAIT!

Members of the NCDF (Pic from June '09)

Here are some of the NCDF members (as of June 2009) meeting
with Minister Eamon O’Cuiv.

The Chairperson, Larry McCarthy, is in the top row, 2nd from right.
Among those also in the photo are: Donal O'Shea, Clare Island,
Emma Freeman, Ballymun, Susan O'Neill and Mary Timmons, Limerick,
Maurice McConville, Dundalk, Ann Fitzpatrick, Tallaght, Mary Hennessy,
Newbridge and Theresa McGouran, Ballyfermot.
Current members absent from pic: Allen Meagher, Mary Timmons, Viv Sadd,

Siobhan McLaughlin.

1200 on national Sept 8th march for CDPs

An energetic 1200 people - the figure comes from the Gardai - marched through Dublin on Sept 8th and the campaign continues now at regional and local level to garner support for retaining CDPs.

Speeches on the day were made by Susan O'Neill from St. Munchin's CDP in Limerick and by Cathleen O'Neill of Kilbarrack CDP in Dublin, among others. Both are members of the NCDF.

The protest got decent coverage in the media and on television.

Here's a link to a video of the march by 'Changing Ireland'.

The Community Sector is now building towards a Community-wide march in Dublin on Sept 30th and in regional centres shortly afterwards.