Community and Public Policy: Shaping a Better Future

1. Community and Public Policy: Shaping a Better Future Seán Healy Director, Social Justice Ireland seanhealy@seanhealy.com

2. Community • 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

3. Context • 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

4. Budget 2012 • 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

5. Unemployment • 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

6. Poverty • 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

7. Impact on families • 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

8. Threat to rural schools • 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

9. Community & Voluntary sector • 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

10. Reality check • 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

11. False assumptions • 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

12. Policy Failures Failure to: • Broaden the tax base • Promote tax equity • Regulate banks • Overcome infrastructure deficiencies • Adequately address high energy costs • Address high Local Authority business charges • Promote competition in sheltered sectors Social Justice Ireland

13. Need for Guiding Vision • “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

14. Vision – A just society 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

15. Taking action at local level • 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

16. Diversify rural economies • 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

17. Tackle long-term unemployment • 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

18. Rural Development • 3 priorities of rural development in Ireland: • Improve the competitiveness of the agriculture sector. • Improve the environment and the countryside. • 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

19. Rural Development (continued) • 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

20. Deliberative democracy • 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

21. Finally … • 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

22. and remember … “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