Sir, – Systemic, long-term underfunding of charities and voluntary bodies that deliver essential public services now threatens the very viability of these services to tens of thousands of vulnerable people supported on a daily basis by our organisations.
Cuts imposed following the economic crash of 2008, reversed for virtually all areas except in much of our sector, mean that delivery of a diverse range of HSE, Tusla and homeless services is fast becoming untenable. This funding starvation means, for example, that an estimated 7,000 people approved for homecare remain on waiting lists.
The future sustainability and viability of public services must be addressed now.
This week’s budget must provide an additional €100 million in urgent funding and be combined with multi-annual funding provision. The new public sector pay agreement must be applied equitably to support recruitment and retention of all qualified public service delivery personnel in the voluntary sector.
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The Government has a duty to ensure that essential services for tens of thousands of families are not fatally undermined in the months ahead. – Yours, etc,
SUZANNE CONNOLLY,
CEO,
Barnardos;
JOHN DOLAN,
CEO,
Disability Federation
of Ireland;
ALISON HARNETT,
CEO,
National Federation
of Voluntary Service
Providers;
SHARON HARTY,
Acting CEO,
National Voluntary Drug
and Alcohol Sector;
FIACRE HENSEY,
CEO,
National Community
Care Network;
CATHERINE KENNY,
Chairperson,
Dublin Homeless Network;
WAYNE STANLEY,
Head of Policy
and Communications,
Simon Communities
of Ireland;
DEIRDRE GARVEY,
CEO,
The Wheel;
Dublin 2.