Services to the public suffer £30 million cuts

Press release for immediate use: 22 November 2004

NICVA has requested an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State to reverse budget cuts before they do severe harm to services provided by voluntary and community groups. Early indications suggest the work they do for the Northern Ireland community could suffer to the tune of £30 million.

“The reductions are the perverse result of financial planning by government departments which are turning public policy on its head ,” commented NICVA chief executive, Seamus McAleavey. “The idea is to cut bureaucracy and divert resources to front-line services. In practice it is services to the public, and especially to disadvantaged groups and individuals, that are suffering. ”

For example, the budget for next year proposes an extra 9% allocation to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for grants to voluntary bodies. In reality, the Department and Health Trusts are telling voluntary bodies that their budgets will be severely trimmed in the coming year. Vital work in preventative health – which the government is pledged to support – will be damaged.

“There are also worrying signs of big reductions in other services ,” Mr McAleavey added. “Education has received most attention but the axe is also falling on services like the arts and sport being delivered successfully by voluntary bodies. In addition, the Children’s Fund is being brought to an abrupt end, despite government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty .”

NICVA is particularly worried about the proposal to axe WorkTrack, which helps people who do not qualify for New Deal to return to employment. Barry Gardiner, Minister for Employment and Learning, says it is no longer needed and points to the very low unemployment figures. But the same figures show that the number of adults defined as economically inactive has risen by 42,000 in the last year and now stands at 500,000.

“We still have a disadvantaged minority in Northern Ireland – people who lack confidence, skills and experience and cannot break into employment. These are the very people who benefit from Worktrack, which DEL proposes to axe ,” said Mr McAleavey.

“It is important to take corrective action to preserve and protect important services delivered to the public, and particularly to disadvantaged groups and individuals, by voluntary and community groups .”

For more information or comment please contact Seamus McAleavey, 028 9087 7777 (NICVA) or 07785 278929 or Paul McGill on 0772 1746 805 (mobile)