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Inside this issue

Spring 2015

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Equality is a community work concern

Welcome to the Spring 2015 edition of Community Work News, the

newsletter of the Community Workers’ Co-operative.

Many thanks to all our contributors. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect

the views of the Community Workers’ Co-operative

If there are issues that you think should be covered or you would like to contribute please contact info@cwc.ie

Community Workers’ Co-operative, Unit 6, Westside Community Resource Centre Seamus Quirke Road Galway Phone: +353 (0) 87 9326467/+353 (0) 87 2998619 Email: info@cwc.ie Website: www.cwc.ie

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This edition of the CWC Community Work News is published in the aftermath of the results of the SICAP procurement process. We are conscious that a number of companies were unsuccessful in their bids to become the SICAP delivery bodies and we extend our solidarity to those organisations and the communities that they serve.

Solidarity also to the organisations that were successful in their bid to implement SICAP but who have expressed significant doubts over the capacity of the programme to deliver real and meaningful social inclusion using community work approaches.

Criticisms of the programme essentially say that it doesn’t do what it says on the tin. The language of community work is used but it is difficult to see how real community work can be done given that the targets have been pre-set without reference to local circumstances or changing need. The CWC is initiating a process of tracking community work in the new programme – further details on this will issue shortly.

Notwithstanding the difficult context in which community work continues to operate, the CWC is delighted that the new office is now fully functional and Rachel Doyle and Ann Irwin are jointly working as the CWC National Co-ordinator.

The edition of CWC Community Work News has an array of articles, including highlighting the upcoming seminar on Thinking and Acting Globally and Locally to Address Racial Discrimination.

Rachel Doyle outlines the plans for the new LEADER programme and the CWC intends to undertake work in this area to ensure that social inclusion permeates the programme.

Martin Collins and Miriam Holt provide an update on plans for the projects of the National Traveller Partnership and the NCCWN respectively.

Reuben Hambakachere provides an update on the report of national working group on Protection Policy and Sinéad Smith writes about the launch of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Oversight and Petitions report on the remit of the Ombudsman and freedom of Information to the direct provision system.

MRCI’s Aoife Smith and Jane Xavier write about the launch of the Labour of Love campaign, new campaign focusing on the rights of workers in private homes across Ireland.

Ann Irwin provides an update on SIF 2015 and the CWC’s submission on the National Framework Policy for Local Community Development, as well as plans to support the Social Inclusion representatives on the Local Community Development Committees.

A sincere thanks to all our contributors.

If you would like to contribute to the next edition of Community Work News or you would like to see an issue covered please email us at info@cwc.ie

Inside this issue: Editorial 1

Thinking and Acting Globally and Locally to Address Racial Discrimination 1

Leadership for Social Inclusion? 1

National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks 1

National Traveller Partnership 1

Direct Provision: If it’s broke … fix it! 1

LCDC Social Inclusion Representatives Forum 1

A Labour of Love 1

Remit of the Ombudsman 1

Social Inclusion Forum 2015 1

National Framework Policy on Local & Community Development 1

Editorial

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Centre for Rights, Recognition & Redistribution Department of Applied Social Studies

Thinking and Acting Globally and Locally to Address Racial Discrimination

A Conference to mark 50 years since the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Monday, May 18th 2015 13.00-17.30

Contributors to Include:

Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Dept. of Justice & Equality

Nozipho January Bardill, CERD Member (South Africa)

Carlos M. Vasquez, Georgetown University & CERD Member (USA)

Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner, Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission

Morten Kjaerum, Director (2008-2015), EU Fundamental Rights Agency

Anastasia Crickley, Dept. Applied Social Studies, Vice President CERD

This conference provides a unique opportunity to engage with international human rights experts and CERD members in discussing and reviewing global and national progress to address racial discrimination. The event reflects the continuing commitment of the Dept. of Applied Social Studies to promoting and supporting engagement with human rights and acknowledges the contribution of Anastasia Crickley, the Head of Dept. to that work locally and globally.

To register for the event, please follow this link.

If you have any problem registering, please email: Deborah.Orourke@nuim.ie

Further information on CERD is available here.

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The LEADER Programme 2014-2020

Rural Development Policy is a core element of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy, delivered through national Rural Development Programmes RDPs. LEADER is a key funding pillar supporting the implementation of RDPs through the delivery of local development actions in rural communities.

The initial phases of the new round of the LEADER programme (2014-2020) are underway. Rural areas in Ireland under the Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 are considered to be those areas outside of the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. There will be 28 sub-regional areas in Ireland supported by this round of LEADER see http://www.environ.ie/en/media/Media,40932,en.pdf (P11)

The LEADER programme 2014-2020 will be overseen by the Department of Environment Community and Local Government (delegated

by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - the programme paying agency). The total funding for this round of LEADER will be €250 million (including Co-Funding by the Exchequer at 65%/35%). Locally, the programme will be implemented by Local Action Groups (LAGS) through the development of Local Development Strategies.

The Strategies must be based on local needs and designed and implemented with strong community involvement through a process of Community Led local Development (CLLD). CLLD in the LEADER programme is defined as a methodology that “Places the rural community at its centre. Groups of people representing defined geographical areas in the form of Local Action Groups are charged with identifying the challenges to development in their own communities and developing initiatives to address these challenges”.

The long term strategic objectives for 2014-2020 LEADER Programme are;

Improving the competitiveness of

agriculture

The sustainable development of natural

resources

A balanced territorial development of rural

areas

These are given greater consideration in the 6 priorities for the programme focussing on; agricultural development, forestry,

Leadership for Social Inclusion?

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environmental sustainability and most crucially from a community work perspective Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas (priority 6). Of particular note here is the fact that LEADER in Ireland will be programmed under priority 6 which should present community groups working to tackle social exclusion, poverty and inequality with a unique opportunity to engage as key stakeholders in the development and implementation of Local Development Strategies.

In terms of the selection of Local Action Groups for this round of LEADER, Expressions of Interest were invited by the DECLG with a deadline of May 15th. LAGS will be selected by a Selection Committee established by DECLG. The Selection Committee will be chaired by an independent chairperson and comprise representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Environment Community and Local Government and experts in rural development.

Local and Community Development Committees in relevant areas have been instructed by the DECLG to submit Expressions of Interest. A number of CWC members sitting on LCDCs have highlighted; the potentially inherent conflict of interest in this; the fact that LCDCs should be given the autonomy to make a decision on whether or not to submit Expressions of Interest, depending on local circumstances; the potential for local divisions where competing interests submit. In the event that a number of groups in a single area submit Expressions of Interest, the Department have indicated that these groups will be encouraged to form a single grouping.

Local and Community Development Committees will have an oversight role in relation to implementation of the Local Development Strategy in their area and the Strategy must align with the Local Economic and Community Plan. There is however no requirement from the Departments perspective that the Local Development Strategy be ratified by the LCDC concerned.

Technical assistance will be provided to the LAGs by Pobal, initially in the development of the Local Development Strategies. A significant degree of emphasis will be placed on the degree to which communities are engaged in the design of Local Development Strategies and in defining the vision for and needs of each local area. The Community Workers Co-operative have made our interest in supporting the social inclusion dimension of the LEADER programme known to the DECLG and to Pobal. We encourage CWC members and those working to promote social inclusion and equality locally, to actively engage in the consultation processes to be undertaken by LAGs towards the development of Local Development Strategies in the coming months. We will keep you updated with any relevant information as the process proceeds. For more detailed information see http://www.environ.ie/en/media/Media,40932,en.pdf

Rachel Doyle is the CWC National Co-ordinator

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Miriam Holt writes of the new arrangements for the members of the National Collective of

Community Based Women’s Networks (NCCWN)

Minster Alan Kelly, Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government and Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Department of Justice and Equality, announced, on the 27th February, the Government’s commitment to social inclusion and community development through the continuation of a scheme supporting the National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks (NCCWN) to promote social inclusion and equality for women.

Responsibility for supports to women under this new scheme, aimed at enhancing inclusion of women in communities, has now become a function of the Department of Justice and Equality. A significant contribution from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the region of €1.4m is being made through the permanent allocation, already voted for through LCDP and SSNO to the Department of Justice and Equality to support the revised scheme.

The scheme is based on the work of the NCCWN and is aimed at promoting equality between men and women and to ensuring that women can achieve their

full potential while enjoying a safe and fulfilling life.

This scheme will enable the NCCWN community-based projects to deliver a

programme of support to disadvantaged women while remaining outside but closely linked to the alignment structures. The NCCWN is committed to ensuring, through consultation with LCDCs in their

local areas, that the scheme funding is used to help address poverty, social exclusion and gender inequalities experienced by disadvantaged women.

This announcement was made as a

culmination of the NCCWN’s yearlong

campaign to retain its national and local

structures to engage and support

marginalised women’s participation. Prior

to the introduction of the new Local

Community Development Programme

(LCDP) in 2011, NCCWN Projects met

alignment criteria and delivered a

reduction from seventeen legally

constituted women’s projects to one

national legal structure with the NCCWN

as the national co-ordinating body,

employing 44 community development

workers throughout the 17 projects who

work with women experiencing

discrimination, poverty and disadvantage.

National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks

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As the only national programme

specifically targeted at disadvantaged

women, the NCCWN, nationally, and its 17

Women’s Projects, locally, are an

important, established and experienced

element of the infrastructure to promote

equality for women and was the vehicle

chosen as an alternative structure to

implement the LCDP for disadvantaged

women.

With regard to the further reforming of

local structures context in 2014, NCCWN

actively engaged in the SICAP consultation

process in an effort to ensure engagement

of women in the new structures.

However, the tendering process for

implementation of SICAP, rendered it

impossible for national organisations to

apply nationally as tenders could only be

submitted or considered on a county by

county basis and only for the delivery of

the programme in its entirety (i.e. across

an entire county and across all areas of

work and target groups). The NCCWN as a

national organisation working exclusively

on a single issue basis were therefore not

in a position to tender nationally to

deliver work under the SICAP.

The NCCWN are heartened that the new

scheme will enable us to ensure that the

voices of women who are most

marginalised are heard and included in

policy and decision-making fora,

nationally and locally. The retention and

continuation of this important

infrastructure is a testament to the power

of grassroots campaigning – the NCCWN

Projects galvanised huge support at local

level through women who participate in

the projects, community organisations

and public representatives and we are

extremely grateful to all those who

worked, campaigned and lobbied on our

behalf. The NCCWN wish to thank all

those who supported our campaign

including Ministers, officials, political

representatives and national

organisations which included the

Community Workers Cooperative,

National Women’s Council of Ireland and

National Traveller Partnership. The

NCCWN look forward to working with the

Department of Justice and Equality in

order to maintain and further develop

supports for disadvantaged women.

Miriam Holt is the NCCWN Co-ordinator and an active member of the CWC

Community Sector Subgroup.

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Martin Collins writes about the National Traveller Partnership and plans for a new

profreamme for Traveller projects under the Department of Justice and Equality.

Over the last thirty years, we have developed a vibrant Traveller infrastructure, informed by a community development approach and its inherent principles, such as empowerment, collective action, solidarity and addressing issues of exclusion and racism. Under the Cohesion process a number of years ago, the very existence of Traveller community development projects was under threat. We fought this and made a case as to why Traveller projects should not be subsumed into the local development companies. It was in the context that the National Traveller Partnership was established.

The NTP is comprised of fourteen local and community development projects and the three national Traveller organisations: Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, the Irish Traveller Movement and the National Traveller Women’s Forum.

Over the last two years, under the Alignment process, which posed an even larger threat to the independence of Traveller organisations, we have found ourselves once again making the case for the ongoing independence of Traveller community development projects under the ambit of the National Traveller partnership.

Thankfully, the rationale and logic of our case was accepted by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, although it must be said that this came down to the wire. It has been agreed that the funding for the National Traveller Partnership will be transferred over to the Traveller Policy Division, to be renamed

the Traveller and Roma Inclusion Unit, at the Department of Justice and Equality.

There is an ongoing dialogue between the National Traveller Partnership and the Department of Justice in agreeing appropriate structures and systems in terms of funding, reporting and defining the relationship between the Department and the NTP.

It must also be considered that part of the context and the rationale behind this move is that the Department of Justice have

responsibility for all Traveller policy and the implementation of such policies. The Department also has responsibility for the implementation of the National Traveller Roma Integration Strategies, which are being revised presently, in

consultation with Traveller organisations.

The Department are also embarking on a consultation process with a view to developing a new Strategic Framework to give impetus to the Traveller Interagency Groups. Further, the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee (NTMAC) and the High Level Senior Official Group have been amalgamated and will henceforth be known as the National Traveller Roma Inclusion Steering Group, which will be chaired by Minister for State Aodhán Ó Riordáin. There is broad welcome for this within the Traveller movement.

While the principle has been agreed that the Traveller projects will fall under the remit of the Department of Justice, there remains a lot of negotiating to be done as to how this process will be managed and structured going forward. For our part, as we have always done, we will engage constructively to get the best possible outcome we can for Travellers.

Martin Collins is the Co-Director of Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centr

National Traveller Partnership

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Reuben Hambakachere provides an update on

the report of national working group on Protection Policy

In October 2014 the national working group on the protection policy was set up as the Government’s response to the countrywide protests by asylum seekers living in direct provision and their supporters, including community workers, community work organisation and others. The government had previously given a commitment to review the system of Direct Provision.

From a community worker’s perspective I welcomed the idea of the coming together of the key players on the issue as a step in the right direction. I had a unique experience coming onto the working group as a representative of asylum seekers, having lived in direct provision my contributions to the deliberations were based on a lived experience.

The role of the group includes the development of a set of recommendations to reform the direct provision system under a set of very restrictive and narrow terms of reference. One of which were that recommendations should be “in light of recognised budgetary realities, the overall cost of the protection system to the taxpayer is reduced or remains within or close to current levels”.

The three themes under which the working group conducted its review were:

Theme group 1 ‘Living Receptions conditions: Improvements to the Direct Provision System (i.e. living conditions while in designated centres) aimed at showing greater respect for the dignity of persons in the system and improving their quality of life.’ Without the option to discuss an alternative to Direct Provision on the table, the group was left to conservatively reform a broken system. The proposals in the draft report do not in any way “show respect or dignity” to those in the asylum process. Direct provision will continue to exist in its current form living in centres away from the wider community. No indications are currently available to say that this will be time bound e.g. 6 months so effectively the system remains intact. Ireland should adopt the EU directive on Reception.

Theme group 2 “Reception conditions: Improved supports (e.g. Financial, Educational, Health) for Protection applicants aimed at showing greater respect for the dignity of persons in the system and improving their quality of life.”

The proposals in this thematic group, Cultúr would assert, will not result or eliminate the poverty, inequality and social exclusion currently experienced by those living in direct provision. The proposal to double the current rates of payment to those living in direct provision from €19.10 to €38.20 coupled with the continuation of the ban for those living in direct provision to work will undermine any limited measures under this theme to address structural inequality or poverty. This is caused and compounded by state policy on asylum seekers and will do little to reduce their social exclusion from the wider communities in which they live.

One positive initiative under discussion is to permit access to third level for children of asylum seekers who have completed second level in Ireland is expected to be implemented soon as the Education Minister has already indicated her commitment to do this in a recent address on the matter at the annual conference of the Teachers Union of Ireland. Key to social inclusion and inequality is access to education and asylum seekers and the state are counting the cost of years of deskilling, loss of confidence and educational attainment and this needs to be countered immediately.

Theme group 3: Improvements to existing arrangements for the processing of protection applications with particular regard to the length of the process. This group was tasked to explore solutions to the backlog of applications and length of time people are in the protection system. Clearing the backlog of legacy cases will be a very welcome initiative, particularly given the rise in numbers of applications for asylum in Ireland. At the same time any new single procedure system should in order to avoid a repeat of what has happened to date be resourced both financially in terms of staffing and structures and must be underpinned by a human rights framework in line with best practice internationally in dealing with claims for asylum. The report should also recognise and come up with proposals to deal with the fact that those who will not meet the criteria will remain in the same situation because the single procedure proposed will not look at existing

Direct Provision: If it’s broke … fix it!

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cases. The new protection bill is a welcome development but meaningful engagement with all stakeholders on it must take place in its next stages.

Moving the Campaign On Asylum seekers sent a clear message to the working group members during the consultations held across the country, calling for the working group members to oversee the final report and its recommendations that will offer real progressive change, and restore the dignity of asylum seekers and their children through a protection system that is underpinned by human rights and in line with international best practice.

The group is nearing the completion of this process and Cultúr believe the proposed recommendations going into the final report do not go far enough and significantly do not reflect the voices of those living in direct provision, those who work with them. They should not

ignore international best practice and Ireland’s international human rights obligations. The current recommendations we believe as they currently stand are a tinkering around of the system which will not deliver real change for those seeking asylum in Ireland.

As we await the much anticipated national working group report to be launched next month, all community workers, community work organisations, campaigners and supporters should start focussing their energy on how they can respond to the report and explore the options open to them to convince the government to implement significant changes to the current system. The campaign continues.....

Reuben Hambakachere is a community worker in Cultúr Migrants Centre working with asylum

seekers in Mosney. He is a former member of the national working group on protection policy and

a member of the Asylum seekers core group

In response to calls from a number of CWC members who have been elected as the Social Inclusion representatives on the Local Community development Committees, the CWC

is organising a series of roundtables to discuss issues of common concern and ways that the CWC can support the reps. See below for details – if you know anyone that is a Social Inclusion rep please pass it on to them

LCDC Social Inclusion Representatives Forum

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The demand for non EU migrant women in the provision of care in family homes in Ireland is significant, growing but largely

unregulated. Aoife Smith writes of the campaign to

highlight exploitation of au pairs working in family homes and to call for enforcement of

labour law and the introduction of a work permit for the domestic work sector

In March of this year, the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) launched its Labour of Love campaign, a new campaign focusing on the rights of workers in private homes across Ireland.

The campaign aims to combat the widespread underpayment, exploitation and abuse of workers providing essential care and housekeeping services. Labour of Love calls for:

1. recognition of the employment rights of au pairs, including the right to minimum wage, and

2. the introduction of a work permit for the domestic work sector, to recognised increased labour market demand for migrant workers in the provision of care and domestic labour in private homes across Ireland.

Jane Xavier, domestic worker spokesperson and former au pair, said “Contrary to popular belief, au pairs in Ireland are workers, not cultural exchange participants. In law, au pairs

have the same rights as any other workers. In practice, however, we are being used for full- time flexible childcare and domestic labour for a fraction of minimum wage. This is unacceptable in 2015. We need to ensure that au pairs know their rights as workers and families know their obligations as employers.” Aoife Smith of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) stated, “In recent years we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of exploited au pairs coming to our centre. These young women are working in excess of 40, 50, 60 and even 70 hours weekly for very little pay, and they are afraid to leave even the most exploitative situations because they

risk being left homeless.” Au pairs work long hours in family homes across Ireland, providing essential childcare services in a country where crèche fees are among the highest in Europe and where the state

is not investing in public childcare systems. Despite the importance of their work, au pairs are being paid a pittance. Their basic employment rights are being completely ignored. The campaign is also calling for the introduction of a dedicated employment permit for domestic work, to match increasing demand for care of the elderly, childcare and household services.

A Labour of Love

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“Domestic work is essential to all economies as it enables others to work outside the home. Demand for domestic work in Ireland has increased but discriminatory immigration and employment policies have created a sector rife with exploitation, poor conditions and even trafficking. The State has a responsibility to ensure that the rights of all domestic

workers are protected and that our employment and immigration policies reflect labour market needs. We need a work permit to recognise the demand for migrant domestic workers, and we need au pairs’ rights to be enforced.

Aoife Smith is the Co-ordinator of the MRCI Domestic Workers Action Group. Jane Xavier,

is the domestic worker spokesperson

Sinéad Smith writes about the launch of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Oversight and

Petitions report on the remit of the Ombudsman and freedom of Information to the direct

provision system

On the 7th May 2015, the JOC on Public Service Oversight and Petitions published their report which examined the extension of the remit of the Ombudsman for Public Service; the Ombudsman for Children and the Freedom of Information Acts to include the Direct Provision System. The committee focused on the central issue about ‘the applicability of a legislated public policy-to have an Ombudsman and Freedom of Information-also apply to the non-legislated public policy of the Direct Provision System.’1

The report noted that when Minister Aodhán Ó Riordáin appeared before the committee he advised them that: “In my personal opinion, we could have a system of direct provision that afforded people their dignity, but that would only be possible if people living in centres had excellent facilities and a meaningful existence, were rooted in the heart of their communities with all of the essential links, had genuine family

1 JOC Public Service Oversight and Petitions Report (May 2015) page 4

lives and their stays were short, by which I mean six months and no longer”2

The committee in its deliberations met with NGOs and others working with asylum seekers and visited four centres in Meath, Limerick, Dublin and Galway. At their visits they met with centre management and residents using a framework of questions for discussion purposes. The feedback from these visits is included in the final report. They also reviewed and considered a number of reports, EU directives and international commitments signed up to by Ireland.

In considering the determination of whether both the FOI and the Ombudsman should have their remits extended to the direct provision system, the Joint Committee applied what they call a ‘test’ which would be ‘a simple question’ namely that:

“Would the delivery of state services as experienced by residents of the Direct Provision System, tolerated by elected representatives if it were ordinary Irish Citizens who were not permitted, in the same legislated way that residents of the Direct Provision System are not

2 Ibid page 5

Remit of the Ombudsman

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permitted, to have access to both the FOI and the Ombudsman?”3

The Committee in its observations following the visits to the four centres concludes:

A. That the Direct Provision System is not fit for purpose;

B. That the delay in processing the applications of residents is inexcusable, perpetrates inequality and ill-treatment at a state level and leads to a systemic problem with the provisions of public services;

C. That the allowances of €19.10 (per week per adult) and €9.60 (per week per child) which have not changed since they were introduced are insufficient, derisory and given Government decisions on issues such as prescription charges have been eroded to the point of being insulting to residents.

D. That residents arrive with issues resulting from the experiences of torture and abuse which are compounded by virtue of being in the Direct Provisions System as it operates;

E. Children in the Direct Provision System should have the same rights as any other child in the state;

F. An emerging issue is the numbers of residents who have been granted leave to remain but have not been able to transition out of the Direct Provision System due to constraints such as access to affordable housing given the ‘cap’ on rent supports. There are now some 6-7% of the 4,360 residents within the Direct Provision System who have been given leave to remain but cannot transition out of the system and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency.4

Finally the committee set out a number of recommendations related to its remit and the central concerns of the test question namely that:

RIA establish a pre-Ombudsman independent complaints system for residents and that this must remain in place as long as the Direct Provision System remains in existence.

The Joint Committee, in regard to inspections of Direct Provision Centres, agrees with, and recommends, the recommendation made by the Irish Refugee

3 Ibid page 24 4 Ibid page 26-7

Council, SPIRASI, Doras Luimní and Cultúr Migrants Centre to the effect, as set out by the Irish Refugee Council, that “responsibility for inspections be carried out by an independent body such as HIQA”.

The Joint Committee recommends, for as long as the Direct Provision System remains in existence, that the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman for Public Service and the Ombudsman for Children be extended to include the Direct Provision System, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) as well as the administration of the law relating to immigration and naturalisation;

The Joint Committee recommends, for as long as the Direct Provision System remains in existence, that the remit of the Freedom of Information Acts are extended to include the Direct Provision System, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) as well as the administration of the law relating to immigration and naturalisation and that the Information Commissioner also has oversight of the system. The Joint Committee note and welcome the latest Statute Instrument (S.I. No. 148 of 2015) Freedom of Information Action 2014 (Effective Date for Certain Bodies) Order 2015 as, with effect from the 14th day of October 2014, the application of the Freedom of Information has been extended to include (a) the Refugee Application Commissioner, and (b) the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.5

The committee present recommendations relevant to other sectoral committees which they will refer to them including the following Joint Committees on Justice, Defence and Equality, Education and Social Protection, Health and Children.

The report will be reviewed in six months’ time by the committee who will submit the report to the Dáil and the Seanad. The full report is available on:

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/DirectProvisionReport07052015.pdf

Sinead Smith is a community worker and project manager of Cultúr Migrants Centre. She is also a

member of the CWC central group.

5 Ibid 28

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The Social Inclusion Forum is part of the structures put in place by the Government to support the development and implementation of its plans to address poverty and social exclusion. The event provides a forum for wider public consultation and discussion on social inclusion issues, particularly with people experiencing poverty and social exclusion and

the groups that work with them.

For the past number of years, the CWC and EAPN Ireland have been joining forces to carry out a series of preparatory workshops around the country to ensure that the SIF is informed by experiences on the ground and to ensure that those attending the SIF are fully prepared to participate.

This year six workshops were held, four regional and one thematic and one focus group sessions around the country.

The workshops covered the Government’s plans to address poverty and social exclusion, the current reality and issues impacting on these plans, as well as the Social Inclusion Forum itself as an opportunity to discuss key issues at national level. The workshops included discussion on the SIF 2015 themes, which were:

Social Housing

Children – Prevention and Early Intervention

Migrants and Poverty

Youth Exclusion

In the context of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, women’s equality was a cross-cutting theme, as was the ongoing changes to the community sector in the context of local government reform.

A number of participants from the regional and thematic workshops were supported to attend the SIF and a preparatory session the evening before. This gave people the opportunity to refine messages and to plan to support each other’s participation.

The SIF is not a panacea. It is an opportunity to ensure that community development is stressed as a key approach to addressing poverty and social inclusion, and it is important to keep this on the agenda of the Department of Social Protection. It is also an opportunity to have the voice of communities experiencing poverty and social exclusion heard. However, there is no guarantee that any change will come about as a result. The frustration at this was evident all around the country and was a point that the CWC made

at the first plenary session at the SIF.

CWC will be conducting a review of SIF 2015, with particular emphasis on CWC engagement in the process. In the meantime we wish to express our sincere thanks to all that participated and to the organisations that supported the organisation of the regional workshops – Wexford Local Development, Galway City Partnership, Galway City Community Network (PPN), MRCI and the Irish Refugee Council.

Social Inclusion Forum 2015

Siphathisiwe Moyo from Galway speaking to the

Tánaiste about Direct Provision at SIF 2015

Siphathisiwe Moyo from Galway speaking to the

Tánaiste about Direct Provision at SIF 2015

The CWC used the opportunity to highlight the Irish

refugee Council campaign to end the asylum backlog, part of the campaign to end direct provision. Participants of

the Wexford workshop calling for an end to direct provision

National Framework Policy on Local & Community Development

The CWC used the opportunity to highlight the Irish

refugee Council campaign to end the asylum backlog, part of the campaign to end direct provision. Participants of

the Wexford workshop calling for an end to direct provision

Page | 14

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government issued a call in February for submissions on a draft National Framework Policy on Community and Local Development. The framework reflects a shared commitment, to engage with communities and to work with partners in planning, delivering and evaluating policies and associated interventions for the good of citizens and communities. The core objectives of the framework are:

1. Engaging with Communities – involving communities in decision making in relation to policies, programmes and actions that affect them;

2. Working with Partners – structured collaborative actions at local level, as well as a coherent cross government approach at central government level;

3. Planning for Local and Community Development - improvement, responsiveness and adaptability with meaningful involvement of local people;

4. Delivering - Collaboration between all tiers of Government and its citizens as key to effective delivery at local level.

5. Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing

It is the intention to establish a National Policy Group on Local and Community Development (NPG), to oversee the development of effective arrangements for communication, consultation and co-ordination. In the course of this work; monitor and review the framework for local and community development and agree national priorities to be targeted by local interventions.

At local level, local authorities will work with local State agencies and community development bodies through the County/City Local Economic and Community Plan process to develop a local vision in line with national priorities; ensure greater coherence of service delivery at local level; deliver an integrated approach to local economic and community development and manage delivery of interventions that provide positive actions are most marginalized groups.

CWC Submission The CWC held two consultation events to inform the CWC submission on the draft Framework Policy. The workshops were held in the context of the CWC project to review Towards Standards for Quality Community Work as we firmly believe that any policy framework must be based on a foundation of the values and principles of community work/community development.

The submission can be accessed from the CWC website – http://www.cwc.ie/2015/03/making-a-submission/

Update The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government received approximately 70 submissions that they are currently in the process of reviewing. While they do not a timeframe for a draft two, they do not believe that the policy will go back to Cabinet before the summer recess.

The Department are now planning a process to bring the policy to final draft format, though they have yet to finalise the plan they are currently considering whether further engagement on the policy will be necessary.

Ann Irwin is the CWC National Co-ordinator

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National Framework Policy on Local & Community Development