Dr Rory Hearne, Department of Geography, Maynooth University writes in an opinion piece in today's Irish Examiner about the important role that community development has played in Ireland but that it is being undermined by austerity and recent policy changes towards privatisation. In the article he highlights that community development has been disproportionally affected under austerity Budgets: "while overall current government spending was reduced in the period 2008 to 2014 by 7.1% from €53.4bn to €49.6bn, the funding for community and voluntary organisations was reduced on average by 35%; with local community development cut by 44%; drug prevention 37%; family support 31%; and youth services 20%". He also asks why this is the case and points out that there is not evidence to support these dramatic policy changes.
The full article can be found here:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/the-silent-destruction-of-community-growth-345068.html