Community development funding cuts

COMMUNITY development funding has been cut from €76.7 million in 2008 to €38 million, according to Limerick Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan. Over that same period, funding for Limerick has dropped from €4,329,117 to €2,185,427. “I have absolutely no doubt that these cuts in Limerick have contributed to ensuring unemployment black-spots remain across the city where eight of the worst ten blackspots in the State are. These figures are shameful and stark. They haven’t moved down in years. These are programmes which are instrumental in reducing poverty and improving the opportunities of those who are marginalised in society. It is simply unacceptable that Fine Gael has seen fit to slash these vital supports,” he said.