81. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he shares the concerns of community development workers regarding resourcing of this critically important discipline. [38528/25]

Sentiment score: 0.15

Baineann mo cheist le hoibrithe forbairt pobail agus na buarthaí atá orthu i dtaobh acmhainní. My question relates to the critical and important role of community development workers and their concerns around resourcing, both pay and conditions, and also resourcing within organisations. The Minister of State will appreciate from his engagement with community development bodies that there are serious concerns now about both pay and conditions and the ability of these organisations to recruit and retain workers in this very important discipline.

Sentiment score: 0.20

Cuirim fáilte roimh an gcomhairliúchán sin. It is good that consultation, with a view to arriving at a new strategy, is taking place. However, this comes down to a question of resources and to the level of Government funding. There is a huge amount of training and accreditation going on and the bursaries are very welcome. However, it is about creating a situation and environment where community development workers - people who put time, effort and thought into becoming professionals - enter into that discipline. They are passionate about the communities, understand that process is as important as the task at hand and get the holistic nature of community development work in the result being more than the sum of its part. These people by economic necessity cannot enter that sector or stay in it because the salaries and job security are not there. This really comes down to resourcing, certainty about resourcing and additional money. As we move towards the budgetary process, I ask that this be front and centre of the Minister of State's engagement with the Departments of public expenditure and finance.

Sentiment score: 0.30

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I think we all acknowledge the skill and the resilience of those working in the sector. Indeed, it is their resilience that got them through and kept them in their jobs when austerity was tearing the very heart out of the sector. Many of our communities are grateful they stayed the course. However, as I said, it is becoming more and more difficult for community organisations to recruit and retrain staff into these. What we need is an extension of the community development programme. We need more money going into these community groups so that community workers can be out on the ground doing the jobs they need to. The model is that Government does not set pay and conditions. However, the Government has to be very conscious of those pay and conditions and the impact lower pay and conditions has on the sector and its ability to do work that benefits society and the State in the long run. That means Government has to step up now and fund and support improvements in terms, pay and conditions for workers in the sector.

Sentiment score: 0.08