Government U-turn on CDPs will cause 'disproportionate suffering' with no savings

The abolition of Community Development Programmes (CDPs) is not cost effective and could seriously damage local communities, according to critics of the proposal.

“A CDP is a small part of an ecosystem...take a CDP away...and [other projects] will crumble,” said Cathleen O'Neill of Kilbarrack CDP, speaking on 'Tonight with Vincent Browne' on November 25. For O'Neill, some of the proposals simply do not make sense. “For every euro that is given to a CDP six euros is raised....they're [also] abolishing voluntary boards...as a cost cutting exercise. They cost the state nothing so why abolish them?” Over 50% of the funding received by many CDPs is from non-governmental sources and the figure can often reach 80%. The government provides around €22m a year. For CDPs, the meagre savings made can in no way justify the proposal.

There are currently 182 CDPs throughout Ireland which provide valuable, sometimes crucial, services for local communities. Their remit is extremely broad but at their core they aim to alleviate poverty and social exclusion and empower underprivileged communities through collective action. However, the McCarthy report has proposed amalgamating CDPs with the LDSIP for savings of €44m. This would effectively abolish the CDP system, a system that has been in place since 1990.

This is a sharp contrast with the then responsible Minister of State Pat Carey's commitment on January 4 2008. “I am delighted to announce substantial funding to Community Development Projects and Organisations. The Government has once again signalled its commitment to the sector, which reflects the work done by project organisations in support of those in our communities who are less well off or marginalised in whatever way.” Junior minister Peter Power has also lauded the contribution of CDPs.

Their views, it seems, are not shared by the Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon O'Cuiv and now the abolition of CDPs looks increasingly likely. The indifference is shared by the relevant Minister of State Pat Carey who failed to show for a meeting in Ballymun regarding the future of CDPs. This represents something of a U-turn for the government who have consistently praised CDPs for their work in the past. The proposed amalgamation has come in for severe criticism from CDPs and community groups.

The Traveller organisation Pavee Point say the proposed amalgamation will be disastrous for Travellers. It risks “returning Travellers to their old status, disorganized, disengaged and disowned.” In a statement, they said: “Travellers are probably the most marginalised group in Irish society. The Traveller CDP infrastructure exists to support the community and to provide a structure for the various agencies of government to exact their missions.”

Fine Gael TD Micheal Noonan has praised the contribution of CDPs, while Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has decried the proposal. Doherty said that the amalgamation would be a serious step backwards for his constituency in Donegal, while approximately 40 academics and social workers echoed both politicians' views in a letter to the Irish Times.

“CDPs provide an extraordinary range of programmes...moreover, every euro allocated to them by the department has been matched by funding obtained from other sources... the CDP programme as it stands is a shining example of self-empowerment and active, ethical citizenship and directly benefits those individuals and communities who did not enjoy the benefits of the Celtic Tiger and who are suffering disproportionately now,” said the letter published on November 25.

The government, for their part, have said the services provided by the programmes will be maintained through the LDSIP and that funding will not be affected. The McCarthy report states that the amalgamation would realise “efficiency savings [and]...lead to a more efficient delivery mechanism” citing no evidence of “positive outcome” among CDPs. The CDPs are unconvinced and the figures, it seems, are unconvincing.

As budget day looms ever closer the future of CDPs remains uncertain. The language of the government and senior civil servants suggests that the amalgamation will go ahead – the marginalised in society neglected again while big business and Ireland’s wealthy remain impervious.