The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ms Mary Freehill, has called for support for tomorrow's march in Dublin to oppose cuts in Community Employment schemes.
She described Government plans to reduce CE places by 4,500 as a "willy-nilly approach" that "flies in the face of social partnership". It would seriously affect schools and childcare services, as well as hurting many voluntary and community groups in disadvantaged areas.
She was one of several speakers at a press conference to support the march. It takes place at 3 p.m. tomorrow from the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin. Last Fri day 500 demonstrators staged a five-minute sit-down outside Leinster House in protest at the cuts.
The Socialist Party TD, Mr Joe Higgins, said it was "important for people to realise that behind the Tanaiste Mary Harney's attack on Community Employment is a cold and calculating agenda to drive people from schemes into jobs which employers who offer
appalling conditions and wages cannot fill". Instead of reducing schemes, the Government should be expanding them.
The deputy general-secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, Mr John White, said up to 600 secondary schools were dependent on CE placements for maintenance, secretarial and maintenance supports.
The deputy leader of Fine Gael, Mrs Nora Owen, has tabled a private member's motion in the Dail condemning the proposed cuts in CE schemes.