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.
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