Community CDPs march to Dept of Finance- photostory

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Wednesday September 09, 2009 23:55 by Paula Geraghty mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie 0876101340

Positive outcomes to Community Development organising in Trade Union Sector

Positive story of communities organising and defending what they have.

Over 1200 took part in Siptu's march to protest against cuts in Community Development Projects on Tuesday. A makeshift coffin marking the proposed death of the community sector if an Bord Snip Nua It's part of an ongoing campaign which will culminate in a larger community sector march on September 30th. Groups came from all over Ireland to defend the jobs and services in the community service.

Kathleen O'Neill from Kilbarrack CDP was scathing of the methods used by McCarthy to assess the methodology of the McCarthy report saying anyone using a similar systaem in the community sector would be sacked for using such a flawed method of measuring outcomes. What irked many was the McCarthy statement about positive outcomes. O'Neill said she and everyone present was a positive outcome.

Martin Collins from the Pavee Point Travellers’ Centre in Dublin spoke of the devastating impact that the withdrawal of funding from Traveller CDPs will have. 300 people work in CDPs and three times that number took part in the protest indicating the next protest will be very significant.

What are CDPs?

CDPs are involved in a range of programmes including childcare, meals on wheels, after-schools projects, youth groups, literacy and drug rehabilitation to name a few. They support the most vulnerable people in the most vulnerable communities including children, lone parents, the elderly, young people, recovering drug addicts and the disabled.

“Since DCRGA cut funding by 15%, CDPs have been living on a knife edge, reducing staff, cutting hours and services. If McCarthy’s recommendation for cuts of €44 million in funding for CDPs and Local Partnerships is implemented schemes across the country will be forced to close,” said SIPTU Organiser, Darragh O’Connor.

“The implications of such closures are stark. Disadvantaged communities will be further undermined and there will be consequences for crime, employment, training, education, and anti-social behaviour,” he said.

http://www.siptu.ie/PressRoom/NewsReleases/2009/Name,11....html

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