Protesters say hundreds of jobs in community projects at risk

Hundreds of jobs will be lost and public services cut in some of the poorest areas

under Government plans to change how community projects are funded, unions and community workers have warned.

Up to 300 community workers and their unions, Siptu and Impact, protested outside the Department of the Environment yesterday as the department was due to announce the winning “bids” for almost €30 million worth of funding for community projects to run from April 1st to the end of the year.

The department, however, delayed the announcement of the winning tenders for funding under the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). The announcement is now expected next week.

Protesters say SICAP is the “privatisation” of the community sector in which 2,000 are directly employed.

Funding stream

SICAP funding will begin in April, replacing the Local and Community Development Programme which had been the funding stream for the sector for almost 20 years.

Under the old programme funds were provided by the department to 50 local development companies, which in turn dispersed funds to smaller projects. It was felt these companies were rooted in the local community.

Under SICAP there will be 51 “lots” of funding administered by development committees based within local authorities.

Local area partnerships have been invited to tender for these “lots”. In numerous areas, where there is more than one partnership, there will be losing bids. The projects the losers now fund could face closure.

The services which could be affected include adult literacy classes, homework clubs, community childcare, employment activation and suicide prevention programmes. Workers say they are waiting to find out which of them will be put on protective notice next week as they find out whether their employers will continue to be funded.

Siptu says its members have been “treated with contempt” by the department as they have not been consulted about the changes heralded by SICAP.