KATHLEEN O'KEEFFE,
Madam, - Could I please draw your attention to some of the stark realities of the Budget that the Government is about to pass into law in our names?
In preparation for the budget CORI asked that emphasis on enabling unemployed people to access jobs be a priority.
Instead the allocation in the Budget:
(1) reduced the allocation for Community Employment from €332 million to €275 million, a reduction of 17.16 per cent;
(2) reduced the employment support services under the Department of Social and Family Affairs by 31 per cent.
That means that many service jobs in the community and voluntary sector will be eliminated, and both the providers and recipients of these services will suffer.
Evidently, provision for the poorest in society is not a priority in this Budget, or with this Government, and the gap between rich and poor widens to the benefit of the former. - Yours, etc.,
KATHLEEN O'KEEFFE,
Coolatree Close,
Dublin 9.