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“It has to start at grassroots level” – a Stoneybatter message to next government

A general election looms over the Irish political landscape, with recent polling suggesting Sinn Fein has lost the advantage it previously held over the Government. The change of leadership from Leo Varadkar to Simon Harris has seen Fine Gael rise to its highest polling in three years.

Billboards for Fine Gael and leader Simon Harris have been seen around Dublin, as well as pallets of posters for Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin. This would suggest an imminent general election, rather than letting the coalition complete its five years early in 2025. But so far Martin has shrugged off the rumours and said that the Government would “finish their agreed agenda”.

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But where has that agenda left the community sector?

“Any funding is a positive and a step in the right direction,” Paul O’Farrell, project manager at An Síol community centre in Stoneybatter, told The Liberty.  

Funding in this month’s Budget announcement includes €1.6 million for the ‘Community and Voluntary Sector’ to help deliver community development schemes, as well as €1 million for the Community Centre Investment Fund.  O’Farrell said this was a positive – but that “the CDP [Community Development Project] won’t see any of this funding, and every service is currently being stretched as is.” 

O’Farrell added: “The community sector is absolutely being taken for granted. The ethos at the moment is cut your cloth to fit, but it is minimum funding. However, funding does make a difference even if it’s only in the short term.

“All communities are underfunded and the next government has to start at the ground, the grassroots,” he said.