McCarthy proposals will break social contract with disadvantaged communities
by Philip O'Connor
The McCarthy proposals will break the 18-year social contract with disadvantaged communities. The Government has not, as yet, endorsed the proposals in the McCarthy Report (Bord Snip Nua) for radical cuts across all areas of social spending.
Given the composition and "secretariat" of the group that produced the McCarthy Report, it can be seen as the wish list of the Department of Finance. But, as The Irish Times commented, the report "presents a menu of financial options to Government without any reference to the social policy of the state" (Editorial, 17th July). And that is the core issue.
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Community Sector Employers campaign against funding cuts
 The Community Sector Employers Forum (CSEF) has called on community organisations to support the campaign against cuts in services and jobs across the sector. The campaign was launched by SIPTU at a rally attended by 2,000 workers at Liberty Hall on 3rd June. The campaign is set to heat up in the autumn and is also supported by IMPACT.
CSEF is a membership organisation which represents the interests of community sector employers. Community organisations are run by voluntary management committees who employ staff to deliver programmes. There are over 50,000 people employed throughout the country in the community sector.
Mick Creedon, CSEF chairperson, declared: 'It is our employees who deliver the services and supports to individuals and groups in communities throughout the country currently hardest hit by the recession. While the government is cutting our funding, there is no cut in the demands for our services, in fact that demand is growing. The jobs already lost and the serious job losses we fear are coming down the line will have a huge impact on those who rely on our services. This is the message we want to communicate to the government.'
Although the community sector employs over 50,000, it is not recognised as an employment sector. Social partnership agreements on pay and employment issues are geared towards the public and private employment sectors with no mention of the community sector. CSEF has been campaigning to secure this recognition, be included in national employment agreements and have access to all job protection schemes.
Noreen Byrne, CSEF vice chairperson, stated: 'The lack of recognition for the community sector as an employer has serious repercussions. The needs of our sector are not taken into account when employment policies and agreements are being made. We want to make sure that any initiatives being developed to deal with the jobs crisis will include the community sector, which has such a vital contribution to make.'
Building CSEF membership in order to ensure that community sector employers have a strong voice over the coming difficult period is a major priority for the CSEF. To help employers, CSEF provides a quarterly update on key issues facing employers in the sector. To subscribe, visit http://www.csef.ie/.
Further information; Jean Somers, jsomers@dublinpact.ie
The Dublin Employment Pact - Developing innovative solutions for employment and social inclusion in the Dublin Region. Visit our website.
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'Learning@Work' programme wins 2009 Aontas STAR Award
by Agnieszka Leschik, Dodder Valley Partnership
As the recession bites ever deeper, there is a serious danger that initiatives to bring learning to the low-skilled will be sacrificed in the rush to meet new emergencies. Already, the specialist DEP programme Learning at Work and its role in the FÁS Skills for Work programme have been cut back radically.
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'Equal at Work' awarded 'model of best practice' at EU event
In a Europe-wide evaluation of over 300 projects funded under European Social Fund programmes over the last five years, the DEP Equal at Work project was one of just six selected from a shortlist of sixteen and awarded as a 'model of best practice' at an event in Prague on 4th June.
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"Skills for Work" trains 357 workers
Programme to be restructured
by Sinead Hyland and Gerard Dorgan, DEP coordinators of the Skills for Work programme in Dublin
An initiative under the FÁS Skills for Work programme implemented by DEP resulted in 357 workers achieving FETAC accredited training. Most of the participants had education qualifications below junior certificate level. The programme was delivered in the eight months to May 2009.
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EAPN calls for radical measures to prioritise jobs
There is an urgent need for Government to identify and support sectors that have the potential for job creation and growth. This is a according to a specialist Employment Working Group, co-ordinated by The European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland (EAPN).
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BenefIT - bringing IT to 4,000 people
The world-wide-web impacts all aspects of our lives. On a personal level the ability to access the internet for online purchases, researching a holiday or sending photos to loved ones far away, is a staple of modern life.
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