I can't tell you how cross this makes me. We have left big chunks of our population to live in segregated hell holes with no facilities. Some of them have organised themselves and got homework clubs going to help their children stay in school. These clubs have been proven to make a big impact on lives and school results - instead of hanging around on the streets children get somewhere warm and a snack and help with their homework. It costs next to fíng nothing.


Axe hangs over homework clubs and counselling services

02/09/2008 - 15:04:22
Homework clubs and counselling schemes for schoolchildren nationwide face being axed over plans to cut back a key service for vulnerable young people, it was warned today.

Trade union Impact said government calls for a 3% cut in payroll costs to the School Completion Programme (SCP) will have a devastating impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable kids.

SCP employs over 700 people in 24 projects across the country providing support to 25,000 young people at risk of dropping out of school early.

Niall Weldon, Impact’s SCP branch chairman, said senior staff face an impossible task in deciding what programmes should be cut with children set to lose out in a range of essential services.

“SCP co-ordinators throughout the country face impossible choices about which services to cut in order to achieve the required savings,” Mr Weldon said.

“Co-ordinators have told me they’ll be forced to cut homework clubs, breakfast clubs, counselling, attendance tracking and behavioural support programmes in order to meet the targets set by the Department.

“The information we have received to date indicates that vulnerable children are set to lose out on a range of essential services.”

Details emerging from senior SCP staff reveal that in the Munster Region two projects are cutting back on staff at their breakfast clubs, with cuts to staff hours also affecting out of school supports, homework clubs and mentoring programmes.

In Leinster one project is intending cutting breakfast club, homework clubs and behavioural supports, while another project will have to make cuts to counselling, attendance tracking and homework clubs, the union said.

In the Dublin West Region, the union has learned of plans to reduce staff hours, after-school services and an overall reduction in breakfast club services.

Support teaching hours for children in mathematics are also to be cut.

In Dublin Central, cuts are likely in psychotherapy and the family club which provides support for parents, Impact said.

“We were assured by government that funding for educational disadvantage would be ring-fenced, and the minister insists that no ’frontline’ services are being cut,” Mr Weldon said.

“The reality of this decision is that no matter where we make changes to achieve the savings, the results for vulnerable children will be devastating.”

Mr Weldon said vulnerable young people could face further disadvantage if the cutbacks are rolled out.

Surprise surpise the state would do something that would be penny wise and pound foolish. This is not just the government`s fault this is the fault of all of us who have contributed to the idea that the economy rather than society as a whole is the be all and end all.

well, as long as those ministerial mercs and government jet keep on rolling then the politicians don't give a sh!t.

zakalwe wrote:

well, as long as those ministerial mercs and government jet keep on rolling then the politicians don't give a sh!t.

I remember hearing about how the community centres in the vast local authority estate areas in Dublin were padlocked to save a few bob in the 1980s. Heroin, how are you.
Whatever is in the politicians heads it is not the wellbeing of these people.

For tiny money, very underprivileged children are having somewhere to go after school and something constructive to do. The helpers have useful work. I've talked to head teachers in areas where these clubs have started and they said the difference in performance was dramatic from the first term. It is so hard for children from these areas to do anything.
The price of Liam Lawlor's car would have run one of these places for two or three years.