SIPTU calls for cancellation of planned cuts to anti-poverty programme in Dublin
SIPTU has called on the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to abandon a proposal to cut Dublin’s main anti-poverty programme by more than €740,000 in 2015.
The cut is proposed for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in Dublin which delivers assistance to people through community organisations across the city.
SIPTU shop steward and community worker, Gerard McLaughlin, said: “The proposed budget allocation for SICAP in 2015 includes a reduction of over €740,000 for the Dublin City Council area. The total proposed cut to the SICAP programme nationally is €2 million. If such a cut is imposed it will have a massive impact on the ability of community organisations to assist those in the greatest need”.
SIPTU Community Sector Organiser, Darragh O’Connor, said: “Anti-poverty programmes such as SICAP have been savaged over the past six years with funding cuts. Dublin is the area with the greatest need for the alleviation of poverty, yet it is taking the biggest funding cut”.
He added: “Unless the Department reverses this decision community programmes will close in Dublin”.
LIBERTY ONLINE
Liberty Online is produced by the Communications Department of SIPTU. Liberty Online is distributed on a regular basis to members who are on the SIPTU e-mail data base. In order to maximize circulation of this news bulletin and other messages and statements we urgently ask recipients to gather the e-mail addresses of other SIPTU members who are not already on the data base. Please forward e-mail addresses to communications@siptu.ie
SIPTU Head Office | Liberty Hall | Dublin 1 | Ireland