Forward NewsPact »
Editor's Notes
McCarthy proposals will break social contract with disadvantaged communities
by Philip O'Connor


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.

Read more »
Employer Forum
Community Sector Employers campaign against funding cuts

Part of the large crowd which attended the community sector protest rally at the Department of Finance, organised by SIPTU with the support of Impact and the CSEF, 3rd June.
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.

Read more »
« return to cover page
Dublin Employment Pact selected for 'Social Polis' initiative

Social PolisIn the first major urban policy initiative under the EU's 7th Framework Programme for research, local authorities, universities, research institutes and non-governmental partnerships have engaged The 'Social Polis' initiative will focus on a range of cities, including Dublin, examining the development of innovative employment strategies in response to the economic crisis. DEP will lead the project in Dublinin a series of development seminars aimed at establishing and teasing out the main social research issues effecting cities.

The 'Social Polis' initiative will focus on a range of cities, including Dublin, examining the development of innovative employment strategies in response to the economic crisis. DEP will lead the project in Dublin.

At a recent project event in Vienna, DEP Director, Philip O'Connor, contributed a paper on the elements of effective labour market policy in cities. Arising from this, an initiative is now being developed within the Social Polis network to develop a framework for urban labour market initiatives in a time of economic crisis.

Dublin will feature as one of the test cases in this process and it is intended to link this process with the Dublin Region Employment Strategy currently being developed under the leadership of the Dublin local authority managers.

For information on the conference see the Social Polis website and the after conference report in the INES Newsletter.

Dublin Employment Pact
The Dublin Employment Pact - Developing innovative solutions for employment and social inclusion in the Dublin Region. Visit our website
Created with Newsweaver