The Minister for Community Affairs in Ireland, John Curran, announced plans on Sept. 18th, 2009, for merging 180 small locally-run Community Development Projects with 55 large city/county-focused social inclusion companies.
Will it work on the ground for people in disadvantaged communities?
The Minister's office has provided 10 questions and answers, all published in this BLOG. It's EASY TO COMMENT. DO GIVE YOUR NAME AND COUNTY. Only click 'anonymous' if you really feel the need to.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Q 2. Why are you doing this?
To provide services to communities in a more effective streamlined way.
- Reply issued on behalf of Minister of State for Community Affairs, John Curran.
Streamlined? What does the Minister mean by this? The reason CDPs were formed originally was because the efficient Agencies realised they could not reach the people who needed their services most. CDPs are CATALYSTS for change not service providers. I know some CDPs missed this point and turned largely towards service provision but the majority are linking with the agencies and the community members who have a block about working with 'suits'. In many cases CDPs in an area served by a LDSIP Programme was initiated by the Partnership Company to bring a Centre to the heart of the community and make it local.
Will the Minister tell us if he agrees with McCarthy's assertion that we 'show little evidence of value'?
Will the Minister tell us which of the Community Development Programme or LDSIP offers better value for money and what criteria was used to arrive at this decision?
Is the Minister aware that the CD Programme is not a service deliverer? If not, as appears, does the Minister understand his portfolio?
Is the real reason for this 'merger' not just to cut funding but also to disenfranchise and disempower real volunteers in working class areas in order to silence them from objecting to the inequitable programme for Government?
Yes, CDPs are not only about service provision but about empowerment, about social inclusion, about activating the community, especially the isolated and vulnerable. Is this something the government no longer sees as 'viable'? Efficiency is a fine thing, but need not involve abandoning the most vulnerable or the silencing of community voices.
will this not add another layer to delivering services on the groups in terms of brueaucarcy? CDPs are able to respond quickly and appropriately to issues, how will this happen now?
The Minister's plan is that a new programme will be forged from the Community Development Programme (CDP) and the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP).
'Changing Ireland' is a community media project that is part of the Local and Community Development Programme.
The project is based in Moyross, Limerick, and is managed by the voluntary board of Changing Ireland Community Media Ltd.
Streamlined? What does the Minister mean by this? The reason CDPs were formed originally was because the efficient Agencies realised they could not reach the people who needed their services most. CDPs are CATALYSTS for change not service providers. I know some CDPs missed this point and turned largely towards service provision but the majority are linking with the agencies and the community members who have a block about working with 'suits'. In many cases CDPs in an area served by a LDSIP Programme was initiated by the Partnership Company to bring a Centre to the heart of the community and make it local.
ReplyDeleteCommunity Development is not about service provision, it's about people, equality and empowerment.
ReplyDeleteIf this has changed since the White Paper Minister, somebody forgot to tell us.
Will the Minister tell us if he agrees with McCarthy's assertion that we 'show little evidence of value'?
ReplyDeleteWill the Minister tell us which of the Community Development Programme or LDSIP offers better value for money and what criteria was used to arrive at this decision?
Is the Minister aware that the CD Programme is not a service deliverer? If not, as appears, does the Minister understand his portfolio?
Is the real reason for this 'merger' not just to cut funding but also to disenfranchise and disempower real volunteers in working class areas in order to silence them from objecting to the inequitable programme for Government?
Yes, CDPs are not only about service provision but about empowerment, about social inclusion, about activating the community, especially the isolated and vulnerable. Is this something the government no longer sees as 'viable'? Efficiency is a fine thing, but need not involve abandoning the most vulnerable or the silencing of community voices.
ReplyDeleteI Agree with all the comments made. The Minister dose not understand the Community Development Programme if he did this would not be happening
ReplyDeletewill this not add another layer to delivering services on the groups in terms of brueaucarcy? CDPs are able to respond quickly and appropriately to issues, how will this happen now?
ReplyDelete