Seán HealyDirector, Social Justice Ireland

seanhealy@seanhealy.com

Community is central to all social change and progress

Community and voluntary sector makes huge contribution across a wide range of arenas

Both community itself and the sector are especially important in difficult times – and these are very difficult times.

Both have not been treated well by policy-makers particularly at national level.

Social Justice Ireland 2

Multiple ‘hits’ in Budget 2012 in Budget 2011 and 2010 and 2009 etc.

Unemployment Rural economies under threat Poverty Rural development Inadequate rural transport Threat to rural schools Services being reduced or cost more Fighting for survival

Social Justice Ireland 3

Increased carbon levy◦ Low income families and rural dwellers impacted

most by this tax.◦ Government should use some of the money

raised by the carbon level to support these groups.

VAT increase to 23% Child Benefit cut Rural Transport Programme cut Funding for REPS cut Reduction in public services

Social Justice Ireland 4

Unemployment rate is14.1%.

Long-term unemployment rate is 8.6%.

Youth unemployment rate is 29.9%.

Emigration has tripled since 2008

◦ Highest levels among those aged 15-44

◦ Over 40,000 Irish people emigrated in 2011

Radical initiatives needed.

Social Justice Ireland 5

Risk of poverty in rural Ireland is 7% higher than urban areas (CSO 2010)

41% of farms generated an income of €6,500 of less in 2011.

In 2010 the number of farmers with work off the farm fell by 32%.

Majority of farm families rely on income support and payments from the state to supplement their income.

Social Justice Ireland 6

Rural families have been hit in multiple ways:◦Child benefit has been reduced;◦Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme has been reduced;◦Primary school transport charge has been increased;◦Public services are being reduced;◦Charges are being introduced or increased for many services;◦VAT has been increased;◦Unemployment remains at a critical level;◦Carbon levy has been increased;◦17 rural Garda stations have been closed;◦Small rural schools are under threat.

Social Justice Ireland 7

Small rural schools are under threat due to the increase in pupil teacher allocations. ◦ 100 posts will be lost in 2012 and a

further 150 posts will be lost in 2013.◦ Schools have had a 7% cut in their

capitation grants (to cover running costs) since 2011.

◦ 47 rural co-ordinator posts removed from rural DEIS schools in 2011.

◦ Rural DEIS schools will be further affected by cuts in Budget 2012 currently under review.

Social Justice Ireland 8

In 2008, the sector had a value of €6.5bn, received about €1.89bn in state funding and employed 53,098 people (full-time equivalents).

From 2008-2012, government spending on current services fell 2.82%.

Government funding for C&V sector fell by 35%

C&V sector employment to fall to 36,638 by end 2015

Social Justice Ireland 9

Rural communities are fighting for survival. The quality of life for rural dwellers and the

sustainability of our rural communities is under threat.

Long-term strategies on infrastructure development, the national spatial imbalance, local access to public services, public transport and local involvement in core decision-making are urgently required so that rural communities can survive.

Rural communities must be given the opportunity to become involved in the decision-making process through deliberative democracy.

Social Justice Ireland 10

Growth is good in itself Economic growth will trickle down EU style services with US tax levels Growing poverty/inequality doesn’t matter Low tax is good Reducing tax rates increases tax-take Local community is not a priority Involving local people is just a pain Ireland has a lot to teach the world on

economics!

Social Justice Ireland 11

Failure to:Broaden the tax basePromote tax equityRegulate banksOvercome infrastructure deficiencies Adequately address high energy costsAddress high Local Authority business chargesPromote competition in sheltered sectors

Social Justice Ireland 12

“Without a vision the people perish”

Ireland should be guided by the core values of:

Human dignity

Sustainability

Equality and human rights

The common Good.

Social Justice Ireland 13

A just society is one where

human rights are respected,

human dignity is protected,

human development is facilitated and

the environment is respected and protected.

Social Justice Ireland 14

Put balanced development at the core of decision-making in all policy arenas

Diversify rural economies Tackle long-term unemployment Focus on Rural development (as distinct from

agricultural development) Involve people through a process of

deliberative democracy Support the Community and Voluntary Sector ACT ACT ACT

Social Justice Ireland 15

Agriculture, forestry and fishing account for only 82,500 people classified as employed (CSO).

Farming accounts for just one quarter of rural labour force.

Rural communities need opportunities and support to develop an economy where sustainable agriculture is supported in conjunction with much needed alternatives.

Government policies must also support rural entrepreneurs and small rural firms to create jobs.

Access to sustainable, integrated transport and reliable high-speed broadband must be given priority.

Social Justice Ireland 16

Part-Time Job Opportunities programme◦ Would create 100,000 part-time jobs for long-term

unemployed;◦ Paid the going hourly rate;◦ Voluntary;◦ Participants work the number of hours to earn their social

welfare payment and a small top-up;◦ Jobs in the public sector and community and voluntary

sector;◦ Participants would be allowed to take up other paid

employment in their spare time without losing benefits and liable to tax in the normal way.

◦ Piloted 1994, mainstreamed 1997.

Social Justice Ireland 17

3 priorities of rural development in Ireland:o Improve the competitiveness of the agriculture sector.o Improve the environment and the countryside.o Improve the quality of live in rural areas and encourage

diversification of economic activity. (CAP Rural Development Programme 2007-2013)

Rural development is NOT agricultural development.

Rural development is about improving the quality of life for rural dwellers and supporting sustainable rural communities.

Social Justice Ireland 18

The main issues identified with

contributing to rural deprivation and

depopulation:

◦ Access to secure and meaningful

employment;

◦ Availability of public transport

◦ Access to quality, affordable childcare

◦ Lack of public services of scale and quality

These areas must be given priority

Social Justice Ireland 19

◦ A process for engaging all stakeholders

◦ Discussing evidence◦ Without power differentials in play◦ The Council of Europe’s new

Charter on Shared Social Responsibility

◦ Agreed: November 2011◦ Government currently planning

alignment of local government and local development – should use this process as its basic building block.

Social Justice Ireland 20

Must get away from voodoo economics Ireland needs a national debate on its future

– both local and national - and the development of an effective strategy for moving forward.

An effective strategy requires:◦ An accurate analysis of the present situation◦ A vision that will inspire and guide policy towards

building a society that is just and fair for all; and◦ Realistic policies to move Ireland towards such a

future

Social Justice Ireland 21

“The future of humanity lies in the hands of those who are strong

enough to provide coming generations with reasons for living

and hoping”

- Gaudium et Spes

Social Justice Ireland 22