In 1980’s Britain, Margaret Thatcher famously remarked that “there is no such thing as society, only individuals”. This is the economics of rampant unchecked capitalism where any hurt inflicted on the vulnerable is seen as collateral damage in the pursuance of profits and is a philosophy the Irish Government believes in.
Pic above: Members of People Before Profit (Tralee) at recent Cuts Protest in Limerick
Another name for it is neo-liberalism. Community development projects (CDP’s) are essentially a concept, the opposite to this mind set. The first CDP’s were set up in Ireland in 1990 as a way of overcoming poverty, disadvantage, marginalisation and discrimination in both rural and inner city areas.
There are now 180 CDP’s in Ireland and in Tralee include the Kerry Network of People with Disabilities, Tralee Women’s Resource Centre and Shanakill Family Resource Centre. These projects were set up initially on a purely voluntary basis until through constant campaigning they received funding, generally from the state. They are deeply imbedded in the communities in which they serve and are staffed by a small group of paid workers, some on Community Employment schemes and a large number of volunteers.
In overall charge of the CDP programme is the Department of Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, which has already this year cut 15 per cent off its budget for CDP’s. If the recommendations in the McCarthy Report go ahead in the forthcoming budget, there will be wide spread closures of these projects. The disadvantaged such as the disabled, the unemployed, single parents and travellers amongst many others will suffer the consequences. Social infrastructure which has taken years to build through mostly unpaid work will be allowed to collapse because saving banks is seen as being of more importance than saving communities. On top of this, if McCarthy’s cuts are implemented, it is estimated that almost 7,000 jobs will be lost in the community sector, as if unemployment isn’t high enough already. It is further proposed that the remaining projects will become part of local partnership companies, thus losing their autonomy and being forced to compromise their principles.
In order to campaign to save CDP’s the organisation, Communities Against Cuts was set up earlier this year and is made up of SIPTU, IMPACT and the Community Sector Employer’s Forum (the voluntary CDP management committees). Large protests are being held through out the country including Dublin where 8,000 to 15,000 demonstrated, Galway and Limerick. In August People before Profit (PbP) supported a demonstration in Tralee against the proposed cuts and was initiated by the Kerry Network of People with Disabilities. Approximately 250 people took part in the march and rally, this despite the fact that it started at 2.00pm on a Monday. Also at the beginning of November a coach load of people, including several members of PbP, travelled from Tralee to Limerick to join the protest to save CDP’s. Almost 3,000 people took part in this demonstration. Further protests are planned and PbP urges everyone to do what they can to support the campaign. People power can win.
Kieran McNulty (PBPA, Tralee)