Anti-poverty group criticises funds withdrawal

A Government decision to withdraw funding from a key anti-poverty organisation has been severely criticised as a move to "censure dissent".

The Community Workers Co-operative (CWC), which advises and supports hundreds of anti-poverty and equality organisations, has been told by Minister of State, Mr Noel Ahern, the core funding it had been in receipt of since 1993, would be halted after March.

The CWC advises local groups on national policy, on how to communicate their experiences into local and national government strategies such as the National Development Plan and the National Anti-Poverty Strategy, as well as facilitating conferences and meetings between groups.

Among those the CWC supports are the Dublin Inner-City Partnership. Its director, Mr David Connolly, described the funding withdrawal as "bad" and "a serious setback", while Ms Christina Hurson of the Tullamore Travellers Group called it "disastrous".

A statement from the Department said its commitment was to focus "available resources on support for communities experiencing disadvantage, exclusion and isolation.

"Because the CWC does not meet this criterion, funding as an anti-poverty network will be discontinued effective from March 30th, 2005."

Reacting to the decision the director of the Combat Poverty Agency, Ms Helen Johnston, said the CWC had been "to the forefront in supporting the development of an independent voice for people who are excluded."