Clare celebrates community services against backdrop of Government cuts

IN an effort to highlight the work carried out by the Clare Community Services Programme, which has been threatened with Government cuts, countywide organisations held a Community Celebration Day in the De Valera Library, Ennis last Friday. Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin launched the event.

“Community service projects play a very important role in improving the quality of life for local communities,” according to the Clare Community Services Programme.
“Often this benefit remains unnoticed or even invisible. The purpose of the celebration day was to showcase the work of the different projects and recognise the great work they do. It demonstrated the importance of continuing the practical and much needed services they provide that would be unlikely to be provided in their absence,” the statement continued.
Several countywide programmes are operated by the organisation including the West Clare Community Services Programme; Clare Accessible Transport; Vandeleur Walled Garden, Kilrush; Raidió Corca Baiscinn; East Clare Co-op; The Burren Centre, Kilfenora and Obair Childcare and Environmental Services in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
“People may not be aware of what service they may be losing. The Community Services Programme was cut disproportionately last year and many of our programmes will not be able to cope with further cuts,” the Clare Community Services Programme concluded.
Earlier this year, Community Services Programme national network chairwoman, Jill Carey, said the Government had introduced severe cuts of 16% and also cut the €4,000 grant for workers in the various schemes.
“This cut has meant many centres will not be able to pay their ESB or other bills and will not be able to continue because this money was used for administration,” she said.
“We are now having to turn our energies to fundraising and this is taking from the work we do, which in the main is invisible or forgotten,” she said.
She said the Government would be in grave difficulty if it had to replace all the caring and community services the programmes provides.