Published: Wednesday, 9th September, 2009 5:00pm

Cuts threaten 60 community groups

Supporters of some 60 community and voluntary groups in Co. Cavan participated in a march in Dublin yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) on the Department of Finance to demonstrate their opposition to any funding cuts for such projects.

The South West Cavan Community Development Project currently supports over 60 groups over an area of 200 sq. miles, which takes the areas of Crosserlough, Ballymachugh, Mullahoran, Denn and parts of Lower Lavey and Ballintemple.

Funding to the project has been cut by 17% or €22,440 since January 2009. The McCarthy report recommends that funding to CDPs and local partnerships be cut by €44 million. The CDPs claim this would force the closure of many schemes.

Based in Kilnaleck, the South West Cavan Community Development Project is a rural community development project, which was set up in 2002 by a steering group of local people. The project is run by a voluntary board of management made up of ten volunteers who employ two full-time staff.

Darragh O'Connor, SIPTU organiser of the march told The Anglo-Celt that and any further cuts to community development projects would be met with fierce opposition.

The 180 CDPs are involved in a range of programmes including childcare, meals on wheels, after schools projects, youth groups, literacy and drug rehabilitation. They support the most vulnerable people in communities including children, loan parents, the elderly, young people, recovering drug addicts and the disabled. "Such cuts are hugely detrimental in a time when the services of community development projects are more in demand than ever given the current economic downturn and sharp rise in unemployment. Any further cuts in funding will seriously jeopardise the future of South West Cavan Community Development Project," claimed Mr. O'Connor.

He adds that the implications of closures are stark. "Disadvantaged communities will be further undermined and there will be consequences for crime, employment, training, education, and anti-social behaviour."

South West Cavan CDP is calling on Minister Brendan Smith and Senator Diarmuid Wilson to declare their support for CDPs to maintain these projects at all costs.

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