Plan to cut 5,000 jobs in social schemes criticised

A proposed cut of 5,000 social employment scheme jobs could have a "catastrophic" effect on Ireland's poorest communities.

The warning comes from PLANET, the representative body for Area Partnership Companies, which were established to support 38 of Ireland's most disadvantaged areas.

Responding to an Irish Times report that civil servants have recommended the job cuts to revamp the community employment scheme (CES), PLANET spokesman Mr Derek Hanway said the plan would add to difficulties from former cutbacks. "Cutting these successful and well-run programmes when unemployment in disadvantaged areas is increasing does not add up. The Government cannot now simply turn its back on these local initiatives. They provide valuable local employment and quality services in areas where the State agencies are not active."

Senator Jim Higgins (FG) says the report is a heartless and short-sighted bureaucratic blueprint drawn up by senior civil servants. More people on the dole would save nothing for the Exchequer.