Westmeath Community Development

Thousands of people have protested in Dublin against cuts proposed in the McCarthy report. 

The new campaign, Communities Against Cuts, claims the 'An Bord Snip Nua' proposals could result in the loss of 6,500 jobs if implemented.  Community groups provide childcare, drug rehabilitation, education & training, youth support, community development and a range of other services and could not function without vital State support.

Cutbacks have already seen the closure of some projects and those in the sector say, if implemented, the McCarthy report proposals will devastate the sector and result in a huge social fall-out as people relying on the services provided have nowhere else to turn.

Terry Fagan, who works on the Dublin North Inner City Folklore Project, has been on a 24-hour fast outside the GPO to highlight the potential damage to the sector along with other colleagues.  He says the sector is seen as a soft target.