The cutbacks proposed in Colm McCarthy’s ‘An Bord Snip Nua’ report pose a serious threat to community and voluntary life in Clare.
    That’s according to the Irish National Community and Voluntary Forum (INCVF), the representative body for 22,000 community and voluntary organisations throughout Ireland. The organisation has 575 affiliates in Co. Clare
    In its response to the McCarthy report, INCVF chairperson, Tom McGettrick said: “If implemented in full, the McCarthy report would result in the disappearance of Clare’s community and voluntary life.
    “Across Clare, community and voluntary organisations provide a hugely valuable service through the organisation of activities in schools, parish halls, community centres and other venues at the heart of Irish society.
    “Our member groups work with people with disabilities, our older citizens, youth groups, the homeless, poorer members of the community and the unemployed. The McCarthy report totally fails to put a value on these activities.”
    Mr. McGettrick said the Government has a responsibility to analyse the true cost of implementing the recommendations of the McCarthy report.
    “Our politicians and commentators seem to have fully accepted the general thrust of the report,” he said.
    “People feel that we must make savings and undergo cuts to correct the public finances. This is understandable.
    “However, we believe that many of the recommendations would ultimately cost the Irish taxpayer money because we would be paying in the long term for the breakdown in our community and voluntary life.
    “There are a huge number of programmes set for closure or severe cuts in the report. These include Community Development Projects, Community Employment schemes, Family Resource Centres, RAPID and Clár programmes.
    “These cuts, coupled with the closure of a primary school or Garda Station in a community, would take away a much-needed lifeline, particularly for those suffering from isolation.
     “Without the services provided by these programmes, and by the voluntary organisations that we represent such as residents’ associations, youth clubs and active retirement groups, social problems will increase in communities throughout Clare, and indeed across the country.”
     Mr McGettrick said the Government must decide what kind of society it wants Ireland’s future generations to inherit, one based on a purely economic model, or one which values the contribution of community leaders and volunteers.
     “Over the last number of years, the Government has made a lot of noise about ‘active citizenship’ and the need for people to give back to their communities.
    “If the recommendations of the ‘An Bord Snip Nua’ report are implemented, the structures needed to support volunteerism and community activity will be removed,” he said.
     The INCVF has written to a number of politicians to point out their concerns, and are looking to meet them to discuss how the Government can change its approach to solving the country’s financial problems.
    “We will be asking our politicians to change their whole approach towards correcting the public finances,” said Mr. McGettrick.
    “The very worst outcome for Ireland would be to adopt short-term solutions now that only lead to greater pressure on the exchequer in future years. The Government must decide whether it will protect the vulnerable from severe cuts.”