The unemployed are at risk of being further marginalised in Irish society as a result of cuts in the Community Employment scheme, the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) warned today.
CORI’s Justice Commission criticised the decision to cut 4,000 Community Employment places which they say is a breach of the terms of the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF).
"Such unilateral action demonstrates a total lack of appreciation of the serious impact these decisions have," according to CORI’s Fr Sean Healy.
He said: "Major changes are urgently needed if services to local communities are not to be seriously damaged and unemployed people are not to be put at even greater risk of exclusion in Irish society."
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment came in for considerable criticism when the cuts were announced during the General Election campaign. The Minister at the Department, Tánaiste Ms Mary Harney faced protests amid claims there was no consultation over the cuts.
Ms Harney claims the cuts were justified because there was less need for the scheme because of increased employment levels.
CORI today accused the Department of "bad faith" and called for the development of a specific programme to finance services provided to local communities by the Community and Voluntary Sector.
They also called for an improved "high-support programme for people who are unemployed to assist them in re-entering paid employment".