Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

Questions (327)

Tony Gregory

Question:

380 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 1 February 2005, if the Government White Paper, Supporting Voluntary Activity, confirmed that the community workers co-operative meets the criteria of the anti-poverty networks programme; if there are now new criteria involved; if the anti-poverty networks were informed of any change in criteria; if there has been an assessment process regarding the eligibility or otherwise of the CWC for the anti-poverty networks programme; and the provision which has been made for core funding for the peace project. [3835/05]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 220 and others of 1 February 2005 on this matter and to my response to the Adjournment Debate on this matter on 26 January 2005.

The decision to discontinue funding of the community workers co-operative was taken in a context where I have been progressively concentrating the focus of my Department's resources directly on communities experiencing disadvantage and isolation. As I indicated in the Adjournment Debate, my view is that the CWC differs from the other groups funded under the national anti-poverty networks in that those other groups, in the main, deal with specific target groups. The other nine anti-poverty networks, which will continue to receive funding, have a specific focus on Travellers, unemployment, refugees, rural poverty, lone parents, older people and disabled people. I believe that the CWC is the voice of community workers rather than of disadvantaged communities and that it overlaps with the functions of other networks. As such it fails to meet a number of the key criteria suggested by the White Paper on supporting voluntary activity.

I also advised the Deputy that funding of the CWC projects in the amount of €358,413 under the peace programme is not affected by this decision.