Madam, - Recent letters in support of the Carmichael Centre's current campaign for additional State funding (June 22nd and 23rd) require a response in the interest of bringing some balance to what has been a one-sided debate.
The Government is fully committed to: the continued availability of the Carmichael Centre's premises, rent-free, for the use of its voluntary organisation tenants; ... the continued funding of the Community Employment workers there, who manage and operate those premises; the continuation of funding to organisations which occupy the Carmichael Centre premises.
Neither the availability of the premises, nor the funding of tenant organisations or the Community Employment scheme are under any threat, so it is difficult to understand how anyone seriously suggest that "the premises must close".
In recent years the centre has received considerable State funds from a number of sources, including this Department, both to meet ongoing costs and for refurbishment. The centre currently has an annual income in excess of €600,000, mainly coming from State sources. By any standards this is a very significant level of funding to support the day-to-day operation of premises which have been provided rent- and rates-free by the State.
Despite the commitment made by the Minister for Health and Children in recent days of €150,000 in additional funding to address the centre's immediate needs, plus the promise of joint discussions with this Department and the Department of Health and Children, it appears that there has been a determination in some quarters to continue with a misleading media campaign on the issue.
Like everybody else, the Carmichael Centre must learn to live within its means and without the expectation that the State will underwrite an unfettered expansion of management costs. The Carmichael Centre must bring its income and expenditure into a realistic balance. This will not in any way affect the incomes of its tenant organisations, the ongoing funding of the CE scheme or the continuing availability of the premises.
The Minister of State at the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Noel Ahern, in consultation with the Minister for Health and Children, will shortly invite representatives of the Carmichael Centre to discussions on this matter.
The Ministers have indicated that they will be prepared, if necessary, to look at alternative arrangements to allow the buildings to continue to be available to the sector. - Yours, etc.,
LAYLA DE COGAN CHIN, Press Officer, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Dublin 2.