SPRING ‘09

Issue 28 The National Magazine of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - Funding 180 CDPs €2.25 www.changingireland.ie Inside: PARTICIPATION: IRISH TRAVELLERS WANT TO WALK IN OBAMA’S SHOES

Curran on Camera 10 - 11

Ballymun Travellers want to stay 14 - 15

OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE, TRAVELLERS IN THE MANSION HOUSE

ALSO INSIDE: Finding your feet in Ballymun, Regeneration in Dublin, Dundalk and Limerick, Data-sharing from Boston to Fingal, Blogging from Edenmore, Video WHO highlights Donegal success Competition, news, features and good humour for desperate times. 18 - 19

This publication and most projects featured are part of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Editorial * * * * * Meanwhile, at local level, the best thing community Out of a crisis organisations in disadvantaged areas could be doing this year is getting people to register to vote. Éamon Ó Cuív has said it before – communities and groups of people who vote get looked after, or at least they don’t come last in the pecking order when comes change politicians are making budgetary decisions. Community Development is a tool for positive change and one recognised worldwide. It seeks to understand the nature and structure * * * * * of power in any one society and to rebalance the distribution of The core-readership of this magazine, volunteers and workers power (and therefore resources). in the Community and Voluntary Sector must work to have The national Community Development Programme employs their voices heard clearly and in unison on issues as they emerge around 350 people, many of whom have personally experienced this year, the rise in racism being one. If doing so, we may also some level of poverty, discrimination or alienation. The Programme provide leadership by showing good example. includes up to 2000 volunteers in its 180 projects who have even more experience. * * * * * We all buy into the idea of leading from the bottom-up, but what Speaking of good example, this issue’s main theme is really changes society? participation, a cornerstone of community development. One of Economist Milton Friedman famously wrote: “Only a crisis, our highlights is a report on a model of participation involving actual or perceived, produces real change”. He applied his theory to a CDP in Lifford that has been recognised by the World Health pushing unregulated free-market capitalism on many underdeveloped Organisation. The hope is that more will follow their lead. countries, or “disaster capitalism” as Naomi Klein terms it. However, his definition of change can be usefully applied at personal, community or nation-state level. People probably need to Published By: identify a crisis at personal, family or community level to be prodded ‘Changing Ireland’ is the national magazine of the Community into seeking change by joining or setting up a community group. Development Programme and is managed and published by the This is a positive reaction to crisis. Community Development Network, Moyross, Limited, through funding from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht * * * * * Affairs. Another positive action in times of crisis is to be practical. Postal address: ‘Changing Ireland’, c/o Community Enterprise Some argue that Ireland’s economy will go downhill if salaries Centre, Moyross, Limerick. are cut and if “consumers” cannot spend. I was at a wedding last Office base: Unit 3, Sarsfield Gardens Business Centre, Sarsfield weekend and a girl at our table wore €700 shoes and I see no loss Gardens, Moyross, Limerick. to society if that type of luxury spending disappears. Public spending cuts and rising taxes are inevitable and I believe Tel Editor: 061-458011. Tel Administrator: 061-458090. it’s better to fight to hold onto the services and programmes for Fax: 061-325300. E-mail: [email protected] good that we have in this country than to grow bitter over personal [email protected] Website: www.changingireland.ie spending losses (so long as salary cuts are on a sliding scale and are introduced fairly across the board). Production: In national terms, I never saw the good in running a country Editor: Allen Meagher on high personal salaries and low-level public services and would Administrator (part-time): Tim Hourigan have gladly given up 30-40% of my income in return for improved Editorial team: Viv Sadd, Niamh Walsh, Juan Carlos Azzopardi services. and Allen Meagher. Why shouldn’t Ireland follow Scandinavia? Reporting: Articles are primarily written by Community * * * * * Development workers and volunteers who have an interest in I’d happily negotiate away up to 30% or more of my income in reporting. return for a country: Design and print by: The Print Factory, Five Alley, Birr, Co. - Where services and supports to the poor, powerless and Offaly. W: www.printfactory.ie vulnerable are guaranteed, - Where children and older people come first. Aren’t we calling for that since the Easter Rising? Thanks To . . . - Where white-collar criminals are jailed and small-time debtors ‘Changing Ireland’ thanks everyone involved in the production of and petty criminals are released and given community service. Issue 28. - Where human rights are properly promoted and protected, - Where public services such as transport are improved, Disclaimer - Where our commitment to official overseas development aid was The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the author maintained. concerned. They do not, by any means, necessarily reflect the - And where our prominent trade union leaders on €120,000 or views of the Editor, the editorial team, the management committee more per annum saw their pay halved. The same should apply to of the Community Development Network, Moyross, Ltd., or the anyone in politics, administration or banking on such high salaries. Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

2. www.pavee.ie/mediamonitor/ Contents:

Don’t tell the people where to go! News briefs Primary care in Africa 4 20

Send us your news and we’ll publish it Data-sharing this week! as an anti-poverty tool

5 21-22

Travellers are talking Boston Indicators Project Over 750 join new forum Highlights hope over deprivation 6-7 23

Unemployed and homeless He’s one of us! I found my feed in Ballymun News and views

8-9 24

Curran on Camera Programme news on drugs, cuts, jobs, protesting and heroes Cuts, studies and impacts 10-11 25

45 Ballymun families face losing homes Regeneration works Traveller accommodation at risk nationally If there are no vested interests

14-15 26

Slum-to-slum Help Me Horace! O’Devaney women speak out Are Travellers off their rockers? 27 16-17

Best practice in primary care PRODUCED IN MOYROSS BY THE COMMUNITY 18-19 DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

3. combat riches! Project News Dungarvan CDP Settles Into New €6.5m Home Dungarvan CDP is settling into a new home, having moved into a premises that was renovated at a cost of €6.5 to cater as a multi- purpose community centre. The project is sharing the facility with the local Scouts, the HSE, a special needs pre- Waterford Mothers Power-Struggle school, a project caring for older people, Focus Ireland and others. At the official opening of the Presentation Open New Premises Over Centre In Dún Community Development Centre, Minister The Independent Mother’s Project (IMP) Martin Cullen commended the county has moved into a new dedicated premises Laoghaire manager, the town councillors and members which the volunteers managing the project of the management committee of Dungarvan have named ‘Tosach’. The official opening at The project co-ordinator of a CDP in CDP for bringing the centre to fruition. 42 Barrack Street took place recently with the Dún Laoghaire has concerns over proposals The building was formerly owned by the Mayor of Waterford in attendance. put forward by the local authority for the Presentation Sisters who were there since The IMP works with mothers who are management of a new €4.8m community 1858. parenting alone and provides them with centre. Dungarvan CDP works with over 200 a safe environment to meet. The project Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council members of the community on a weekly basis. provides support, encouragement, development is building the new facility to replace the old The CDP’s management committee won a opportunities, access to information and aims resource centre on the site where Mountwood/ Community and Voluntary Award in 2007 to empower women. Fitzgerald Park CDP is based. and the project provides the backbone to at “We have mothers who put in a huge The opening is scheduled for August this least 17 services and community groups in the commitment to the project over the years year and while describing the new building as area. while raising their young children,” said a “good news story” to local media, the CDP Finance for the new centre came through chairperson, Veronica Malone. “Their project co-ordinator, Marian White, said the the Department of Justice, Equality and Law enthusiasm and energy has got the project to council is attempting to control who sits on Reform, the Department of the Environment, where it is now.” the facility’s new management committee. Heritage and Local Government, Dungarvan The project – as with all CDPs – operates In addition Marian is concerned the council Town Council, POBAIL, the HSE and from Community Development principles. will not grant the CDP a lease on the new Waterford Institute of Technology. For more information, contact Veronica or centre. Dungarvan CDP’s new address is: Amy. T: 051-352866. E: [email protected] “As a Community Development Project we Presentation Community Development Centre, lobbied for about €1.7 million of the funds for Mitchell St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. The the building, but having done all that we still project’s phone number remains unchanged. have not got security of tenure,” she said. Edenmore Is First A council spokesperson said it was engaged in “extensive consultation” to ensure that the Targetting Older With A Blog facility would meet the needs of the wider community. Over a dozen CDPs have websites, but the People In Cavan first CDP in the country to have a blog is Edenmore in Dublin. CDPs regularly host courses in their News from the project is published as it community centres and South West Cavan happens, be it a new member joining the CDP, in conjunction with the VEC, are CDP board or a shopping trip to Newry for currently running technology courses for older senior citizens. The news is published by way people. Courses include: An Introduction of text, photos and movies. The blog also to Computers for the Elderly; and Certified features news from indymedia.ie and films Intermediate Computing. If you are thinking of Community Development initiatives from of targeting older people, contact South West around the world. Cavan CDP on 049-4336070 for an insight. Recently, Edenmore CDP staff and In Carlow, meanwhile, Open Door CDP volunteers produced a nine-minute film that is targeting immigrants by hosting a course tells where Edenmore is, the sort of place it is in English for Foreign Nationals. Other and some of the work the CDP is doing. courses hosted by the project include Digital Check out: http://edenmore.blogspot.com/ Mountwood’s old resource centre Photography, Guitar, Beauty Therapy and Computers Fetac Levels 4 & 5.

4. www.socialmarketingireland.blogspot.com ‘Changing Ireland’ has changed - Send us your news and we’ll publish it this week!

The Editorial Team of ‘Changing Ireland’ is changing the way it It’s up to you the readers now to provide us with the content. We’ll operates, reports Allen Meagher, editor. take your regular news and press releases, your opinion where it Rather than focus mainly on producing a quarterly magazine with promotes positive change (ie is not merely critical) and your feedback. a website in the background, we are turning our operations around. We’re already fighting off PR companies seeking publicity on a near From now on, news will be published on the internet as we get it. In daily basis. ‘Changing Ireland’ is for those engaged in Community addition, ‘Changing Ireland’ has begun to film, record and upload Development in Ireland. audio and video reports from around the country. Get filming or writing - whether you’re working in a Partnership We hope projects will also see the benefits of digging out their Company, a local library, your community, the Dail or – our core digital cameras and producing short reports for us to broadcast on the group – projects within the Community Development Programme. So internet. long as it’s about Community Development and where possible offers Not once in eight years has the Editorial Team sought to suppress solutions to challenging social issues. Use www.changingireland.ie to an article submitted by a project – and there have been many articles change Ireland for the good! Check it out yourself to see what’s there published since 2001 that were critical of Government policy. The already. Editorial Team, the Department and the Minister deserve recognition We went green with Issue 27. We go live from Issue 28 onwards. for their maturity in seeing that the voice of Community Development The Editorial Team currently consists of: Allen Meagher, editor, needs to be heard and in recognising this essential component of a Viv Sadd, Mahon CDP co-ordinator and Juan Carlos Azzopardi, good democracy. CDN Moyross co-ordinator, Niamh Walsh, DCRGA. In publishing on the internet, new challenges will arise and each item will have to meet with the Editorial Team’s approval prior to publishing/broadcast. A system has been set up to allow this to happen very quickly without having to meet up as a group.

5. the bolivian president’s salary is €18,000 p.a. BEST PRACTICE IN PARTICIPATION: ‘MINCEIR WHIDEN’ Would we elect a Traveller as Taoiseach? Allen Meagher reports one day elect a female President. That marginalisation is manifested in Eight years after that discussion, a woman the rejection – by Travellers – of their own The influence of Barack Obama is was elected President in the nearby West ethnicity, in low educational attainment, high everywhere and a national Traveller-only African state of Liberia. My former work unemployment rates, poor living conditions forum believes that one day a Traveller might colleague admitted to me (on a subsequent and so on. become Taoiseach. The forum is called Minceir visit) that it was a possibility one day in her Whiden, a Cant word meaning Travellers country too. So too with the notion of a ASSERTIVE AND STRONG Talking, and membership is heading towards Traveller becoming Taoiseach. Talking about it “We will be strong and assertive but a thousand. gives life to the idea and Travellers are talking dignified and disciplined in demanding the They could be right. At least, you have to like never before. rights and respect the Traveller community are believe so if change is to happen. Over 750 people have joined the Travellers- entitled to,” added Martin. “In a few years down the line, we would only forum where members talk openly about Minceir Whiden brings together Traveller love to see a Minceir Whiden representative in the issues they face, covering everything activists from all over Ireland, many of whom the Seanad. We could then follow in America’s from family feuds to youngsters text-dating. have been involved in the struggle for many footsteps, in electing Mr Obama, and reach This level of participation is remarkable years, and their experience is balanced by the a position in Irish society where a Traveller and a credit to the many Traveller groups raw idealism of young Travellers who have is elected as Taoiseach,” said Mags Casey, – including around a dozen CDPs – that joined up. project co-ordinator of Tipperary Travellers have laid the groundwork over the years to “Minceir Whiden will reap positive CDP. encourage Travellers to get more organised. benefits not only for Travellers but for “Promoting and creating a political society in general. It will lead us forward platform for our community is one of our HISTORIC DAY as a community challenging our oppression long-term aims. It will take a lot of hard The forum has been in the making quietly as one,” said forum member, Rosemarie work and it means we need support not only for four years now, but on November 27th, Maughan, from Mayo. from our community but from the settled 2008, Minceir Whiden was officially launched Having launched the national forum, community,” she added. at a public ceremony in the Mansion House, Minceir Whiden is now working to win Dublin. The Minceir Whiden Council recognition from the State, national NGOs NEARLY CHOKED presented themselves at the official launch and domestic and international bodies Ireland has twice elected female Presidents, and outlined the forum’s aims. They also supportive of Travellers and Human rights. a nigh-impossibility in the early years of the underlined the historic importance of the To become a member, or for more State when women, while having the vote, launch: information, contact Minceir Whiden, c/o often voted as they were instructed to by “This is where the first Dáil took place,” John Paul Collins, c/o Apartment 1, The the man of the house. But change begins by Martin Collins reminded those attending. “As Mews, 20a Herbert Lane, Dublin 2. T: 086- believing it is possible. I remember a female is well documented by human rights bodies, 739-1988. E: [email protected] (the work colleague, during my time as a volunteer Travellers continue to be one of the most spelling is wrong, but the email address is in the civil service in The Gambia; she nearly marginalised and excluded groups in Irish correct). choked when I suggested her country could society.”

Winnie believes that by wearing the pin, Traveller peace pin people will stir debate about the problems within Traveller communities. A design for a Traveller Peace Pin was “Many Travellers want to see an end to launched as part of Traveller Focus Week in violence and for people to find better ways December. of dealing with conflict and sorting out Winnie Keenan of Pavee Point Mediation problems,” she said. Service believes her idea that people should For more information or for an order wear a Traveller Peace Pin will encourage an form, please contact: The Mediation end to conflict within Traveller communities. Service, Pavee Point Travellers’ Centre, 46 The idea was turned into a design by artist North Great Charles Street, Dublin 1. T: Eamon Coleman and – as funds are raised – 01-8780255. E: [email protected] or the pin will go into production. [email protected] have you really an anti-poverty/anti-exclusion focus? 6. Obama in the White House; Travellers in the Mansion House BEST PRACTICE IN PARTICIPATION: ‘MINCEIR WHIDEN’ TALK ABOUT PARTICIPATION! - Minceir Whiden factfile: The Minceir Whiden Forum promotes participation and representative democracy among Travellers. It… has two structures: the Assembly (being the registered members) and the Council (which is elected by the Assembly to carry out identified actions). ...has over 750 Travellers registered as Assembly members and efforts are being made to increase membership. … meets on average eight times a year - six Council meetings and two Assembly meetings. … is not replacing or in competition with existing Traveller organisations (which involve settled people). On the contrary, it will lend its voice and support to existing bodies and their people. … has received “huge support” from If there was a flag, it would give existing Traveller organisations. TRAVELLER FLAG: Travellers a better opportunity to express pride in achievements by members of their … is not unusual. It is a common practice community/nation. both domestically and internationally CLOCK TICKING TOWARDS Interestingly, Traveller representatives for particular interest groups or ethnic met with Unionists recently. Unionists minorities to have their own forums in being the biggest ethnic minority on the parallel to other models of participation. island of Ireland and, in common with DECISION-TIME Travellers, struggle sometimes to define Violence, family feuding and drug dealing themselves. Minceir Whiden aims to: within the Traveller community are among the The issue of a Traveller flag almost went • Unite Travellers. issues discussed at the Minceir Whiden forum. to a vote a couple of years ago, but there • Address the divisions amongst Members don’t shy away from heated subjects. was no register of Traveller-only electors Travellers. One of the most interesting – and divisive and no established referendum system, • Promote a collective voice and a - issues among Travellers in recent times has so the vote was called off. In 2005, over political platform for Travellers. been whether or not to adopt a flag. Some 100 Travellers met in Athlone. As Minceir • Promote Traveller Culture and its Travellers are totally against it – they say their Whiden reports, “It was agreed that the role in Irish society. flag is the Irish flag, full stop. Others see it as issue of the flag would be put on hold for • Work together with other nomadic fitting and appropriate to their ethnic status five years after which time, if it was still an groups within Europe and – after all the Roma, Aboriginal and Maori issue, it would be reviewed.” worldwide. communities have flags. It is still an issue and with only a year to • Build relations between Travellers It raises questions of identity. Which go, you can expect to hear more about the and settled communities. flag would come first – the Irish flag or pros and cons of a Traveller flag. • Work in a spirit of co-operation and the Traveller flag? Should a Traveller flag solidarity with Traveller organisations somehow include the Irish flag in its design? to achieve its objectives. How would Travellers agree to one design over another?

7. always remember you’re unique, just like everyone else Reflection: From unemployed to paid activist and co-ordinator

PARTICIPATION ‘Unemployed and homeless, I found my feet in Ballymun’ - Nick Murphy writes about his uplifting experience of ‘participation’

I began my present career in Community older Social Employment Scheme. They were was in work and, as an added advantage, I Development about five years after my first looking for someone to work in the local could walk to the office. Great. career folded. The idea of C.E. was that people got I moved to Ballymun in the late ‘80s training to do the job they were taken on to because I’d been unemployed for a couple do so you didn’t need previous experience of years and looked to be going to stay “I couldn’t turn on which was good ‘cos I didn’t have a clue. I that way if I stayed where I was. Also the couldn’t turn on a computer and I tended to mortgage holder wanted the house back over a computer.” run and hide if a phone rang rather than have a trifling matter of several unpaid mortgage to answer it. I even had to have the concept of installments. Community Development explained to me. My Within weeks of moving in I was doing an tenant’s association office. Whatever. I didn’t first reaction was “Are you allowed to just set interview for Community Employment, one care what the job was. It paid about 5 punts up a group to tell the government what to of the first to be called C.E. instead of the more than the dole but at least I could say I do? Don’t you need permission off someone?” live by wanting less and experiencing more 8. PARTNERSHIPS

My first Supervisor didn’t like the term understand, but the community felt that for Blogspots highlight C.E. Scheme. She felt the word “scheme” was a national institution like a bank to pull out pejorative. So we were a “Project”. Later was saying that Ballymun had no future. Not childcare and when I was a Supervisor myself I heard for the first or last time the community had another Supervisor refer to his project as another opinion and were willing to take to poverty issues the streets to share it. After a re-think, the bank came around to seeing it their way too. The Community Childcare Subvention “Think of all the As an outsider coming in, it seemed to me Scheme was the focus of protests in Ballymun was trying to pull itself up by its December. Community crèche managers Community Projects boot straps. The Job Centre was trying to throughout the country have raised help people get into work, there were groups concerns. trying to help drugs users, lone-parents, The scheme’s weaknesses were that wouldn’t exist if it tenants and residents. There were clothes and highlighted in October in a report furniture recycling (I don’t think it was called launched by the Inner City Community wasn’t for CE staff.” recycling then, just selling second-hand stuff). Childcare Providers Network in We had youth groups, the Community and conjunction with the Dublin Inner City Family Training Agency, Community Action Partnership (DICP). a “scheme” and his staff as “schemers”. Project, the Housing Task Force trying to get “Childcare for the most vulnerable That’s something C.E. has had to fight Ballymun redeveloped, environmental groups children across Ireland is under threat,” against pretty much from the start which I trying to get something done about the said spokesperson Tommy Byrne. think is laughable when you think of all the open spaces and so on. The enthusiasm was For a pdf copy of the research and Community Projects that wouldn’t exist if it infectious. reports from the launch, log onto: www. wasn’t for C.E. staff. I don’t mind saying I suffered a bit of dublininnercity.blogspot.com That’s something else we’ve been fighting culture shock. The very idea of people getting For reports, including audio, from an against for all the time I’ve been in involved in decisions that affected them and open forum held by DICP in December Community work – The way people will use that agencies and national politicians were to discuss responses to acute poverty labels to decide how they treat you. You really willing to listen was very new and exciting in the inner city, log onto: www. have to fight against people casually labelling for me. Sort of do-it-yourself Government. I socialmarketingireland.blogspot.com you. People who don’t even know you will couldn’t wait to get involved. decide how to treat you based on labels like Unemployed, Traveller, Lone Parent, Ex- Clondalkin P’ship Offender, Drug User etc. “You really have to Anyway within 3 months of landing in is renamed Ballymun I’d joined the Community Coalition. At the time there were 103 recognized fight against people The Area Partnerships around the community groups on the mailing list for a country are changing. For instance, population of 21,000. Everybody around casually labelling you.” CPLN Area Partnership (previously me was involved in community work – it just Clondalkin Partnership) has gone seemed to be the thing to do. I suppose in through a re-branding to align its name the beginning I just got swept along. I was There were local and national politicians with its new geographic area. amazed that you could just go out with some sitting on the Task Force alongside the On November 14th, it formally of your neighbours and start a group to community people. Before that I was used relaunched itself with CPLN standing for improve your area or demand better services. I to seeing my elected representatives only at Clondalking, Palmerstown, Lucan and got the impression the agencies were a little election time – suddenly I was sitting ‘round Newcastle. surprised as well. the table with them on the first Tuesday of When I moved in, the Community had every month. Before I moved to Ballymun just successfully fought to stop a national I couldn’t have named a single government bank from pulling out of Ballymun. I wasn’t minister; by 1994 I was arguing with the Northside reached a big fan of banks at the time, as you may Minister for Social Welfare on first name terms. 17,000 people Now I know what your going to say; “I’ll bet the infatuation with community work According to a six year review “The very idea didn’t last” but actually it did. Here I am entitled ‘Taking Stock’, almost 17,000 several years on and a lot greyer, still up to people have participated in Northside of people getting my neck in it. Today, I work as a Community Partnership supported initiatives aimed Development co-ordinator, 10 miles north at encouraging social inclusion across involved in decisions of Ballymun on a Traveller Halting Site in North Dublin since 2000. Balbriggan.” Numbers aren’t everything – though it that affected them … * Nick Murphy is a Regional Reporter for helps to have a measure of a project’s ‘Changing Ireland’. impact. A key focus of the Partnership’s work was very new and is responding to the training needs of unemployed people. exciting for me” For more information on this and other Partnership news, log onto: www. planet.ie

a community can be sectoral or geographic 9. Interview

CURRAN ON CAMERA Minister of State, John Curran, takes questions on maintaining frontline services, difficulties over pensions for drugs workers, unemployment, his heroes, the Department’s role in supporting communities, and his days as a protester. Excerpts from the interview are available on changingireland.ie and on youtube.com

ALLEN MEAGHER: Have you ever been it is not just John and Mary coming to the projects. on any street protests? minister with a letter or petition, that this is an issue that has exercised a lot of people. I’m So, what are communities saying to you MINISTER OF STATE, JOHN CURRAN: nationwide? I was involved in student protests. One of very conscious when I see protests. the big issues at the time was the very poor We still have people who didn’t make it, we Should RAPID areas be ringfenced for still have people in poor circumstances. We standards of accommodation… with students protection from frontline cutbacks? living in bedsits and flats in Rathmines. still have areas trying to get over the legacy I marched to the Dail as a student. I never Not necessarily. The funding for 2009 for of generations of no employment. What thought (then) that a day would come when Drugs Taskforces will be the same as in 2008 communities are saying to me very clearly is I’d be on the other side of the gate, that in money terms. I would hope Taskforces find that, even in the good times we had parts of didn’t cross my mind. It’s unusual, it’s not efficiencies in the way they do their business, this country that needed considerable support like you get up in the morning and say ‘I’ll to ensure the frontline services they’re and still need it. become a TD’ … Every so often, I look (out providing are maintained. It is a challenge, What impressed you most in the the window) and say ‘Yeah, well, once upon a but it’s one faced by every Government communities you have visited? department, by every private company. time I was there with the students.’ Most of the projects come from the Those who organise a protest do it to show (Drugs) projects may have to look at a shared outreach worker between projects or a communities themselves and what really a depth of feeling. They’ve already engaged inspires me is people’s imagination and their with Ministers and civil servants and the shared counsellor or maybe one co-ordinator providing services or hosting services for other own approach to coming up with solutions protest is to show the depth of feeling, that to their problems that work. When you look

90% of the world’s wealth is in men’s hands 10. Interview

at the range of things they’re doing, because Even in times of recession, there are One of the reasons I got into politics was they’re so innovative and flexible and timely opportunities. What are the opportunities for I was very concerned that Clondalkin was in their response, they’re doing things the communities now? getting left behind in terms of infrastructure. statutory agencies couldn’t respond to in a In these difficult times, I’m noticing We were looking at Tallaght emerging as short timeframe. People’s ingenuity always people are more prepared to volunteer, to get almost a new city (whereas) in Clondalkin astounds me. all we could see was housing coming up involved in local groups and organisations. Where did you see the needs were all around. I got involved in lobbying for a greatest? How best can the Government support range of sporting, community and educational Disadvantaged areas still have a range of volunteering in the years ahead? facilities. Not everything I looked for we got, factors mitigating against them. Standards of We can specifically support the Volunteer but certainly the infrastructure has improved, education are lower, they are less likely to go Centres. Figures show that people who have with many new sporting developments, a new to university, some (suffer) poorer health. So, never volunteered before are volunteering community centre, swimming pool, new school disadvantage hasn’t gone away. through the Volunteer Centres. facilities, rail station.... I can see a tangible benefit on the ground. How have you personally shaped the Drugs Taskforce employees are not current and future plans for communities? entitled to pensions whereas CDP employees Ideally, what’s the first thing you would are. This means there are conflicting change – be it local, national or global - if I asked everyone I met what they were pensions policy coming from the one you could get everyone to agree? Climate doing and what their relationships with other Department. Can we get pensions for our change for example? agencies were like. Often, I found a lack of colleagues that work with the Taskforces? joined-up thinking. So, I’ve put a series of The developed world, even in these difficult processes in place to make sure the services That’s a matter that may well end up in the times, needs to be very conscious that there is are better co-ordinated. Labour Relations Court. I don’t want to make a continent where a high number of countries The Volunteer Centres come under my a comment. are experiencing a high degree of poverty. I’d remit. They were being rolled out, but nobody love to be able to bring world leaders together Do you think the workers who don’t get to make significant change. (Minister Curran had a good grip on it, so I’ve temporarily pensions should get them? suspended any further roll-out. We’re doing recently visited southern Africa and witnessed It would be unfair (to comment) if it is extreme poverty). a review of their functions so we roll out a going to court. standard package. Have you got a five-year plan? You’ve said that your emphasis is on The Volunteer Centres are matching people I haven’t got a long-term plan. I’m very to the needs in various communites and I maintaining frontline services. Should we cut back on infrastructural projects? focused on the work in front of me and the think they have a huge role to play in the budgetary situation. I need to make sure future. I’m very impressed by them, but I want I don’t think (so). If we’re to maintain that the Programmes I’m supporting are a high standard of service. employment in the future, in other words providing frontline services effectively and They’re not being cut. The idea is there will if multi-national companies are to come to efficiently… I’m very concerned that there’s a be one in every county. Ireland, it’ll be depend on our infrastructure new National Drugs Strategy to be completed. What have been the Department’s greatest being able to compete with that in other I have a reduced budget, the Programmes achievements in terms of tackling drugs eurozone countries. I support have a meaningful impact on since you own appointment? Moyross in the past had 80% marginalised communities around the country We’re hugely involved in producing a new unemployment. It dropped to 27% and I want to make sure that the money we’re National Drugs Strategy which will run to when times were good and Community spending continues to support those front-line 2016. It has involved public consultations with Development workers fear it could quickly services as far as possible in these difficult all the stakeholders… That’s a huge job of rise up to 50+% since we’re in recession. times. work… There are a lot of other disadvantaged What was the toughest day, week or We now have a national (drugs) communities facing similar situations. month you’ve put down as a politician? rehabilitation co-ordinator employed through How can the Community Development Programme help? Personally, being blunt and honest, the the HSE and I would hope in 2009 that worst day I ever had was the day the issue of rehabilitation will be advanced. We’ve put the The real challenge now is we have people the medical cards for the over-70s emerged. structures in place for rehabilitation and now losing their jobs who have the capacity to There’s no question that caused huge concern we’ve to move that forward in a meaningful work, who have the work experience, who and anxiety. way around the country. have discipline, and who have the expectation and anticipation of having a job – the real Do you expect to be in politics in five Which Departmental or inter-departmental years time? review is likely to have the most impact on challenge is that they’re retrained and (quickly community organisations? helped to) find alternative employment, so I have severed my links from business that they don’t become disenfranchised by completely, this is my full-time job, I’m a We fund Community Development Projects, becoming long-term unemployed because it’s full-time politician. (Minister Curran was Partnerships and various projects through (then) much more difficult to get back into self-employed for 20 years in an audio-visual the Drugs Taskforces for example. One thing the workforce. The challenge for community company). that’s key is they’re all operating in the same groups is to identify opportunities and to communities and one of the real issues/ retrain people as quickly as possible. And who are your heroes? concerns that I have is how do we ensure Recently, we relaunched the Clondalkin Most of my heroes are people I’ve met: they’re providing integrated services, they’re Centre for the Unemployed and it’s been Ronnie Delaney, Eamon Coughlan, Kenny working together, not duplicating, not in renamed Clondalkin Employment and Egan, Mother Theresa. (In politics, again competition with one another. (We want) Education Development Services. It’s more applying the guideline that they had to be to ensure that they’re delivering maximum proactive in its approach and is not just people he has met, his heroes include): JFK, frontline services to the communities they’re waiting for people to become unemployed. John McCain, Jack Lynch, Alan Dukes and working in. That’s a piece of work we’re John Hume. doing in-house at the moment and I think it’ll What was your greatest leadership role in be very important. Clondalkin?

11. relative poverty hurts children most LimerickRegeneration than with the heavy crime, but people can’t STATE NEEDS TO CHANGE understand that.” Regeneration will As regeneration gathers pace, Brendan says The communities have had their spirits that the biggest challenge they face is not lifted by the promise of regeneration and crime (“a matter for the Gardai”) or anti- in Moyross crime is down 60%. Brendan include some relocation social behaviour, but the system: considers this a good sign coming as it does €14 million is earmarked this year by “We’re saying we need major reform in the before any real money has been spent on Government for social housing for residents way services are delivered… and there could be regeneration in Limerick. from Limerick city’s disadvantaged areas. a serious improvement while actually achieving “That progress was made in one year, The unexpected aspect of the plan is that the savings.” so can you imagine when we really get housing will be built outside regeneration Asked had regeneration led to greater going. The word is out there that if you’re areas, in counties Limerick and Clare as well co-ordination between social workers, child misbehaving you might not get a house.” as Limerick city. psychologists and workers from various Since the arson attack on two children in It is good news for those residents – Government agencies, Kenny admitted: “Only 2005 in Moyross, media commentators have often elderly people - who cannot wait for a little bit. It’s very slow. If we can’t get the continued to give the false impression that regeneration and are under pressure from State agencies to integrate and co-ordinate the area is the most deprived of Limerick’s anti-social elements in certain estates to move their services, my overall worry is that, while estates. out. we’re making some progress, we won’t get the However, the deprivation is actually worse However, given that €14m represents half success we should get.” in other communities in Limerick. the regeneration budget for 2009, community For regeneration to succeed, his agency “While Moyross is certainly disadvantaged, leaders grew concerned. They feared that needs to see “a very radical overhaul of it is communities in the other Regeneration regeneration could be replaced by a policy of how our public services are delivered, how areas of Southill, Ballinacurra-Weston relocation. they’re integrated, co-ordinated and their and St. Mary’s Park that experience the Relocation is a controversial measure all accountability.” greatest degree of poverty, discrimination round. Neither the communities who must A tall order. In general, is he an optimist? and disadvantage,” says Regeneration boss, take in the new residents, nor the communities “Yes, absolutely, you have to be in this Brendan Kenny. losing people and population view it entirely job and you have to be positive and to keep Regeneration also hopes to reach in positively. And the regeneration communities pushing.” particular those families with children involved did not actively participate in the decision. Kenny says he is satisfied progress is being in anti-social behaviour. made under regeneration, although nothing “They’re not involved in crime but they Regeneration boss, Brendan Kenny, is has been built yet (apart from a handball need help.” allaying concerns and says there is “no alley). The local courts regularly deal with parents plan whatsoever to engage in widespread “I’m satisfied when I go to meetings and hauled up because their children miss out on a relocation”. The €14m will pay for housing I hear residents – in Moyross – saying ‘This quarter or more of the school-year and this is for around 100 families, which represents only is the quietest we’ve seen it in years’. One an issue at the core of the social regeneration a tiny percentage of the population living in resident said it was the quietest in 15 years.” of Limerick city’s disadvantaged communities. the city’s disadvantaged districts. He said he was at a meeting on the Brendan pointed out that over €9m will go Southside before Christmas when residents LESSONS FROM DUBLIN to other regeneration activities for the year, actually praised the Gardai, something which Brendan formerly worked through Dublin including €3.5m for social regeneration and was not commonplace before. City Council on regeneration programmes in €750,000 for business enterprise support. COMMUNITY SAFETY the capital. Ballymun in particular is viewed In an interview with ‘Changing Ireland’ as a success story. before the funding was announced, he said: “There is a long way to go yet. And there “I think Ballymun is going to prove to be “In the short-term, there are quality of life are two aspects to it: There is the gangster very successful, because it had a very strong issues for people, with houses burned out crime and killings that drag Limerick down. social, economic and physical strategy from and people just can’t wait for regeneration. But we (in Regeneration) hear far more the beginning. I think Fatima Mansions is Unfortunately, we’re going to lose good about the ordinary, day-to-day, low-level, anti- a very good one, the community themselves people, though they will be allowed to come social behaviour and harassment that affects would say it.” back…” residents in the regeneration areas. That’s However, Ballymun cost twice as much as caused in the main by young people and was budgeted for and took twice as long as it’s harder for the Gardai to deal with that the poorest people in the world are women 12. Limerick’s hidden treasure is its people and they defy Cork shows passion stereotyping. Pictured during the Limerick Pride Regeneration March last year is Sharon Arseburn from Moyross. for participation

planned. So, should we double the estimated Cork GAA is emerging from a bitter attendance at meetings is low, cost of Limerick’s regeneration now? The dispute over who should have their say members are unsure of the Forum’s timeframe for Limerick has already been in the selection of the county team and function and usefulness and this doubled from a five-year to a ten-year plan. its managers. The dispute centred on the weakens the mandate of the elected core Community Development principles Not likely. Brendan argues that Ballymun’s reps. cost didn’t double, saying that it was under- of participation and consultation and estimated in the beginning. involved clubs and players challenging “It’s very difficult to budget for board and management. regeneration. Asbestos-removal. Unexpected While the city’s sports stars made SOLUTIONS delays. Also, at the time in Ballymun, the headlines, leaders in the Community and The following is the gist of what national economy was flying.” Voluntary Sector and staff in City Hall Cork is aiming to do: Did he feel embarrassed to be seeking €1.7 also quietly recognised they needed to tidy - On information: The Forum should billion to be spent on 25,000 people over up their affairs and make it easier for be reformed and a new community website the next ten years as the country’s finances communities to be represented in the big collapsed? and small decisions that effect people’s for the city set up. Local community Absolutely not! lives. newsletters were seen as having a key role. “No! These areas were neglected and Two years ago, the co-ordinators of - On consultation: A short handbook suffered awfully and went through the eight CDPs across the city, in conjunction on good consultation practice should be economic boom without getting to be part of with Cork City Council, RAPID and Cork published. it. By doing nothing we’ll still have to pour a City Partnership, commissioned Exodea lot of money into these areas – whereas the Europe Consulting to examine the issue. - On involvement/volunteering: long-term radical solution (of regeneration) Their study found solutions that are now Transition year students and active retired will save money in the long-term.” being approved by groups across the city. people should be asked for ‘Just 2 hours He added that, “In some ways, we might be The consultant’s initial findings reflected (per week)’ as part of a pilot project. lucky because of the recession, it gives us time the depth of the problem: - On development: Training and to hold back and reflect.” - There was no common notion mentoring, ideally by experienced activists, Incidentally, John Fitzgerald (whose report of community participation and led to regeneration) said the investment would should be offered to volunteers as their “pay for itself”. representation in the city. potential develops. Fitzgerald’s report also warned that - Most feedback from community - On co-operation: More Limerick needed at least 100 extra Gardai or representatives was ad-hoc and was information-swopping sessions should be no plan would work. Although numbers go only to their organisations. held around the city. up and down with retirements and transfers, - Most community reps didn’t have a the basic target of 100 extra officers has now - On networking: The model behind been reached. structure or support for reporting the Community Safety Forum in Mahon The main lesson Brendan learned from back to the rest of the community (eg should be adopted by communities working in Ballymun was “You don’t get through a community website). across the city. A concept called ‘chaos- anywhere without buy-in from the community” - Many community reps had a conferencing’ should set the agenda for and it is something they have worked very mandate from a local group but were hard for – and won – in Limerick. meetings. “The people in these communities have lived “representing” the whole community. - Representing: A charter of good through a recession for the last 25 years,” he - The process of consultation is “still practice should be written and every remarked. The aim is to get more children not seriously embedded in the culture group should back it. back into schooling among other crucial of the state agencies and the local Work will next begin on implementing the things. Without doing this, regeneration authority.” cannot succeed, he says. recommendations. “We may go back (to Government) and - There are 195 community and For a bright and easy-to-read booklet, look for more powers. We’re getting buy-in voluntary organisations registered with or a full copy of the report, contact from all the agencies – courtesy and support the City Community Forum. However, Cork City Development Board. T: 021- – but we’re not really effecting the change that is needed yet,” he added. 4924596. E: [email protected]

13. 20% of the world’s population don’t have enough water Traveller Accommodation and Consultation Traveller Specific Accommodation Heading Down A One-Way Street Nick Murphy reports

45 BALLYMUN FAMILIES Could the threatened closure of St. Council, the residents have addressed many Margaret’s halting site in Ballymun mark of the issues and St. Margarets is a credit FACE LOSING HOMES the start of the end of Traveller Specific to them. A series of murals of scenes from Accommodation and Consultation in Ireland? the Bible graces the entrance and the site - Council may be in breach of law “This is a national issue because if the was recently honoured by the Tidy Towns 2008 was the European Year of Council push it through it will have negative committee for contributing to a cleaner Intercultural Dialogue, but you wouldn’t implications for the survival of other sites,” Ballymun. The residents recently secured know it to look at Dublin City Council’s said CDP Accommodation Worker, Sarah €66,000 in RAPID funding for an on-site plans for Travellers in Ballymun. Lovely. “They probably see St. Margaret’s in playground. The Council want to shift 45 Traveller terms of its commercial potential. IKEA is due Damien said the bad drainage and poor families from an official halting site into to go across the road from us.” electrical supply are matters for Dublin City standard housing, against the residents’ Local authorities across the State must Council, as the residents cannot rectify these wishes and in spite of laws supporting adopt new Accommodation Programmes by their own efforts. Traveller rights to culturally-suitable (including provision for Travellers) by the end On overcrowding, he said, “Dublin City accommodation. The issue will go to a of April. Council must take responsibility. There’s vote by the end of April as the Council’s nowhere else for couples to go when they Draft Accommodation Programme comes COMMUNITY OF 60 YEARS get married and they end up being forced before the area’s 52 councillors. Travellers have been living in Ballymun for to live in overcrowded conditions with their The Travellers would prefer to see at least 60 years. In 1975 they were moved relatives”. settled people get the houses and to stay from their traditional site, near where the in St. Margaret’s. local library is now, to Margaret’s Road and ‘WE’RE STUNNED!’ The residents have their own in 1997 the present St. Margaret’s official Now the Council’s Draft Accommodation Community Development Project on site halting site was built. Programme calls for 40 standard houses in and the project has achieved much over In the past, St Margarets suffered from groups of 4/5 across Ballymun to replace the years, but even experienced staff in overcrowding, difficulties with electricity the site. Presumably the murals, the childcare the CDP admit they are “stunned” by supply, raw sewage seeping from drains and services, the training opportunities and the this latest twist. intermittent fresh water supply. Dumping in proposed playground will be swept away. A campaign was mounted in early the area was a major problem at one point, as “We’re stunned,” says Damien. “We did December to resist the plan. was graffiti. detailed work with the residents on their Supporters include former Minister preferences which we submitted to Dublin of State Chris Flood, various local FAMILY-FRIENDLY SITE City Council to inform their 2009 plan. Our and national Traveller organisations, Although overcrowded and badly serviced, consultation showed 73% wished to stay, 18 Ballymun Regeneration Limited (which the design of the site remains family-friendly people preferred bungalows and nine prefered now believes the plan is a bad idea), and which gives a level of security to the young traditional bays. Yet there seems to be no crucially - quite a number (though not yet children simply not available in standard acknowledgement of (this).” a majority) of Councillors. housing. Over the years, onsite developments This is not the first time consultation work If passed, it will spell the end of have grown to provide childcare and other carried out by the CDP has been ignored Travellers as a community in Ballymun, services and this has brought employment and by the Council. The project’s submissions on predicted one resident. However, the training opportunities to the residents. behalf of the community for the 2005-’08 Council may be breaking the law. The Damien Smith, project co-ordinator of St. Traveller Accommodation Programme were Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act Margaret’s Travellers Community Association not taken into account either and 25 standard 1998, requires local authorities to have (one of four CDPs in Ballymun) said St. houses were provided for Travellers under that regard to the “distinct needs and family Margaret’s is a caring and supportive plan. Four of these now lie vacant. circumstances of Travellers.” community: “Many of the residents are Irish Traveller Movement National involved in voluntary work to improve the PROTESTS MOUNT Accommodation Officer, Claire Davey, living circumstances of local Travellers.” St. Margaret’s, through their CDP, have said she was “surprised” at the City since lodged two new submissions objecting Council because the proposal “appears A CREDIT TO RESIDENTS to the draft proposals in the latest plan. The to be in breach of that statutory Working in partnership with Dublin City Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative obligation.”

14. challenge stereotypes Struggle Replaces Participation Dublin City Council “It is proposed to replace the St Margaret’s site with approximately 40 houses in clusters of 4/5 throughout Ballymun Regeneration Project.” - Excerpt from Dublin City Council (DCC) Draft Accommodation Programme 2009 – 2013. Committee has also written in protest. In better times, in June 2005, President “Dublin City Council appear to have closed Mary McAleese attended the graduation their minds to Traveller Specific Housing,” at St. Margaret’s of participants in the St. Margaret’s Travellers said a spokesperson for St. Margaret’s Traveller Primary Health Care Programme. “It is the collective view and wish of the Residents Association. “Since they were One wonder what she would think of the local community to develop the site rather first required to produce a plan that took latest ‘development’. then close it down.” Travellers needs into account, they have For more information, contact: St. - St. Margaret’s Travellers Community never reached their targets. Maybe they’ve Margaret’s Travellers Community Association Chairperson, Colin Thomson. just decided it’s too hard and it’s easier and Association, St. Margaret’s Road, St. cheaper to force us into houses that won’t Margaret’s Park, Ballymun, Dublin 1. T: suit. This way, the City Council will get 01-8622144. E: saintmargarets@eircom. Irish Traveller Movement their houses back in about three years when net “It would appear that all the good work people who can’t adapt to standard housing Earlier ‘Changing Ireland’ reports from and lessons of including residents in the move out. Then the Council can say we made St. Margaret’s can be found in issues design of their accommodation that were ourselves homeless and refuse to provide 17, 18 and 22: see our website archive. to the fore in the Ballymun Regeneration Traveller Specific Housing.” In 2007, ‘Changing Ireland’ ran a media Project have been discarded for regressive skills training workshop for local resident policies that should be consigned to ‘OUT THE WINDOW’ activists. The CDP is in the middle of the history.” It’s the kind of thing that – should DCC halting site, the axel in the wheel, and it - Irish Traveller Movement National succeed – might prompt other local authorities too faces possible demolition. Accommodation Officer, Claire Davey. to turn their back on the law and the needs of Travellers. “It’s as though consultation has gone out the window,” said one of the residents. “If this plan goes ahead, us Travellers will disappear as a recognisable community in Ballymun.” said they were meeting with “a brick Hope And wall”. “This way, the City Council will There were 156 Traveller families living in Waterford city according to a survey in get their houses back in about Dismay Nationally October last and 34 of those families were on the housing list. three years when people who Dismay: Family evicted can’t adapt to standard housing A couple and their three children, Hope: Judge backs 100 Travellers including twins suffering with Down A High Court judge on January 30th, move out. Then the Council can syndrome, were evicted from their home refused to order an extended Traveller at Kilbarry halting site on January 28th, family to move from an unauthorised say we made ourselves homeless by Waterford City Council. Boulders were encampment near the M1 motorway until and refuse to provide Traveller placed to prevent the O’Reilly family from Dublin City Council provided a suitable returning. alternative site for them. Specific Housing.” Director of the Irish Traveller Judge Michael Peart was ruling on a Movement Damien Peelo said it was “one request by the council for final orders in of the most shocking cases” he had come proceedings brought by the council against across in over 10 years. the 100-member Gavin family. Owen McDonagh, a resident of the site, Members of Waterford Travellers CDP sees the problem in stark terms. “Would The council had asked the judge were working to support the family to order the Gavins to move their 30 it be too strong to use the phrase ‘Ethnic and made applications for relevant Cleansing’? Are the Government once again caravans from their existing location near documentation under the Freedom of the motorway to a site a couple of miles are putting conditions on my culture and my Information Act, though Mary Kearney ethnic background.” away at St Dominick’s Park, Belcamp.

15. well-behaved women rarely make history Life In O’Devaney’s

SLUM TO SLUM REGENERATION WORKERS’ PERSONAL TESTIMONY 1950’s who went bust and were taken over by We Are The Women Of Dublin Corporation (as it was called then) to provide accommodation for people who had O’Devaney Gardens to be moved out of condemned buildings. A public Private Partnership of its day! - Report: Nadine Murphy and Ruth Murray * A lot of the residents in O’Devaney Gardens today are second and third generation We are the women of O’Devaney Gardens. residents. Many of the community have We live here, this is our community. extended family living in the flats, and a Developers and Dublin City Council argue network of support. There are families here about who pulled out or why, but the who were reared in the flats and who are result is we are left living in substandard rearing their children in O’Devaney Gardens, accommodation, in a community under stress. or their children’s children. It is our children who have to be raised here. We are both single mothers, who work full- ONCE VIBRANT, BUT NEVER time, to provide for our own families and to BENEFITTED fight for our community. O’Devaney Gardens was once a very vibrant community, everyone looked out for each FROM SLUM TO SLUM other and it was a very safe area for children, Our children have been looking forward but in the late 70’s and early 80’s O’Devaney to a new home. We have both been heavily Gardens saw an exodus of tenants moving out involved since the beginning of the PPP to new housing estates. process and have put a lot of time and effort into it. Now we feel totally devastated by the whole situation, not only for ourselves, but “Everyday, a local child comes for our families and our community. Most of the families who live here now into our office to look at the were originally moved into O’Devaney model of the regeneration. Gardens from other flats that built in the Nadine’s story: 1930’s or from tenement buildings that were What are we supposed to tell My family have lived in O’Devaney for so bad they were in danger of collapsing her now?” three generation. My Nanny was one of and killing everyone inside. Our families and the first tenants, my grandparents lived communities were moved from slums and here, I still have a sister, cousins and my destitution. Now, three generations on, we are Our community went down hill, it was children have cousins living here. When back in the slums of today. poorly maintained, the economy was depressed my child was six, I hoped to be in my We want what we were promised, a new and there was very little in the way of new home for when he was having his community. vibrant local community or local community debs, giving it plenty of time. His debs structures. Communal space became ripe for is in less than a year! MODERN PROMISE anti-social behaviour, leading to early school The Community Charter, which was the leavers and a significant drug problem. The Ruth’s experience: basis of the Redevelopment Proposals states: area developed a bad name and reputation, I have lived in these flats for 12 “We are dealing with people’s homes and and there were some anti-social problems, but years, I got my flat the day before my lives here and the regeneration must deliver one feeds the other, and O’Devaney Gardens child was born. I am from the north- a high quality environment, housing, services become very depressed. While everyone else west inner city of Dublin and also have and amenities to the existing community. was benefiting from the Celtic Tiger, our extended family living in O’Devaney, Anything less than this would not be tolerated community did not get the support it needed: including a sister, nieces and nephews. in an affluent area and the existing and future childcare, youth services, education, adult My children have cousins here. When I residents have a right to such regeneration.” education, and health services. Now, when the was pregnant with my youngest child, Tiger has left the building, we are the first to the dream was to have a new home for LIFE IN ‘THE LUXURIES’ lose out again. This is not fair! his education. He started school this O’Devaney Gardens is a local authority September, still with no facilities. flats complex in the north west inner city of REKINDLING COMMUNITY SPIRIT Dublin. It is quite near the Phoenix Park. Today in O’Devaney Gardens residents are The estate was built in the 1950’s and is a big trying to get the community spirit to come complex with 276 flats and four shops. The alive again. People look out for each other, flats come in two different styles, known to helping each other with childcare, washing, the local community as the, ‘Long Balconies’, fundraising for community events and for and the ‘Luxuries’. The luxuries were people in trouble. There are projects and originally being built by a developer in the volunteer work in the community and some of

16. why is there an “s” in lisp? SLUM TO SLUM REGENERATION WORKERS’ PERSONAL TESTIMONY the bigger problems such as drugs are getting The Block’s Committee visited other better. There are still problems, but things communities that were also being regenerated have improved. There are a range of activities by Dublin City Council and the advice they and facilities in the community: some of the received from the other estates made it very facilities are not in a good state, but there is a clear that the process needed to slow down. vibrant community, with lots going on! We are Between 2000 – 2003, a number of trying, but the loss of the redevelopment was proposals were put on the table, but the like a kick in the teeth. residents of O’Devaney Gardens refused these proposals as they felt they were unsuitable for LOOKING TO THE 1950s FOR their community. INSPIRATION In early 2004, a decision was made to In the 1950s the developer went bust, and proceed with the regeneration under a PPP the local authority stepped in and completed (Public Private Partnership). In April of the building and provided good quality that year, a draft Community Charter was accommodation to a community in need. drawn up and circulated to all tenants and Why can’t this happen today? Surely the public meetings were held by the blocks economy is in a better position today than in committee. In July, the nearby CDP known the 1950s? And our community still needs to as Community Technical Aid (CTA) was be regenerated. We must learn the mistakes asked to assist the O’Devaney Gardens blocks of the previous redevelopment. It is not just committee in this process and were centrally New book lifts the lid on new accommodation this community needs, involved in developing a community charter but supports to maintain and develop a and social agenda as a tool for ensuring that regeneration community. the tenants got the best deal possible. This charter was then passed by Dublin’s City A new publication on housing and FAMILY FIRST councillors and in June 2005 two regeneration the dismantling of communities through Over the last number of years our workers were employed from O’Devaney ‘regeneration’ was published in December community has gone through a rollercoaster Gardens under the management of CTA. by Tasc and New Island. of events from the highs of seeing models and Over the years, CTA has supported the Staff and volunteers in St. Michael’s plans of our new community, to the lows of tenants of O’Devaney Gardens, carrying Family Resource Centre – the local CDP being told the developer has pulled out. Why out tenant training and social research and – have been involved for years in attempts was our community allowed to be taken for strategic planning training. CTA also provided to make regeneration work for the area. such a ride? technical support and urban planning advice ‘Regeneration: public good or private We are mothers to young children, and to residents and continue to do so. CTA are profit?’ by Dr. John Bisset lifts the lid while we love our community and have worked the secretariat to the Regeneration Board and on a model of regeneration that “wasted hard to battle for improvements and resources, have an administrative role. public resources, and failed the needs of we first have a responsibility to our families. - This background article was written by communities in need of those resources”. At what point do we decide that staying here Community Technical Aid. The book reads like a thriller as it damages our children and their future? documents the experience of regeneration Everyday, a local child comes into our office from the community perspective in St to look at the model of the regeneration. Michael’s Estate and other parts of What are we supposed to tell her now? Regeneration Under Dublin. * Ruth Murray and Nadine Murphy, are Official launches of the book have residents and Regeneration Workers from Spotlight taken place in Dublin, Belfast, Waterford O’Devaney Gardens. Community Technical and Limerick. Close to 200 development workers and In Limerick, the Regeneration Agencies Aid, which is funded through the Community € Development Programme, are Ruth’s and community activists from across the State want to attract 1.3 billion in private Nadine’s employers. attended a day-long seminar in November in investment, although with the demise Trinity College Dublin. of financial capitalism it remains to be Among the presentations – on the pros seen if this is possible. As Dr. Bisset and cons of regeneration, the level of true documented, communities in Dublin had CDP Employs The participation involved and the results of problems with private-sector involvement research – was one from TCD’s Dr. Andrew and Limerick people are currently reading Regeneration Workers MacLaran. the book with interest. It can be downloaded from the ‘Regeneration: public good or private In 1999, Dublin City Council decided Combat Poverty Agency website: profit?’ is available, priced €15, from that O’Devaney Gardens flat complex would www.cpa.ie/research/seminars/ all good bookstores or directly from the undergo a massive regeneration. A Residents’ presentations/2008-11-04_AndrewMacLaran. CDP in St. Michael’s Estate (tel. 01- Blocks Committee was set up to work with pdf 4533938) and on behalf of the residents.

17. why is the word ‘phonetic’ not spelt phonetically? GOOD PRACTICE: IN HEALTH & PARTICIPATION

20-minute DVD to get the message out. On the international front, the World Health Lifford’s pension day bus project Organisation (WHO) now feature the work in County Donegal on their website. The WHO coverage is remarkable as the work in Lifford is placed alongside examples of development plan calls for 20 such teams and forums). work from Brazil, Chile, France and other “Health workers now seek the advice of the countries. community reps on the Primary Care Team, So far, Lifford has taken calls and visits and doctors in particular have become great from Donegal to Cork and Mayo to Laois. promoters of the Forums’ work and of the This is partly because there is no current community approach to promoting health,” agreed national framework for ‘Community says Marie McLaughlin, Community Worker Participation’ when establishing primary care with the East Donegal Primary Care Network teams. Marie works a two-day week to support three of the forums and insists both commitment and resources from the HSE Plan Is For 600 at national level are crucial for continued Brid McMenamin. If and when plans come to fruition, there development will be around 600 PCTs nationwide as The successes in Lifford to date came the Republic’s health system shifts from about through collaboration between Lifford/ its hospital-focus towards primary and Clonleigh Resource Centre (the local CDP) WHO community-based healthcare. It is a crucial and the HSE. The CDP has continued to part of the reform of the health services. support the development of meaningful (and highlights By now, Ireland should be spending around they stress the word ‘meaningful’) community €1.5 billion per annum on these preventative participation and continues to ensure there is measures, saving money on surgical real community representation on the Primary Lifford’s work procedures and keeping hospital numbers Care Teams and Forums. down. However, the roll-out has proceeded in fits and starts since first announced (in the - CDPs can and do support Primary Care Strategy in 2001). Reaches The Most Excluded Nonetheless, there are now over 90 Primary “The Lifford/Castlefinn Community Health primary health care Care Teams in operation around the State Forum aims to act as a voice to address and some of these teams have sought support issues effecting the health and well-being Community reps are working with health from CDPs. Thanks to the Community of people from prenatal care to old age. It workers in Co. Donegal so that the roll-out Development Programme, national initiatives particularly emphasises matters of concern to of frontline services at local level matches the such as this can be rolled out relatively quickly the most vulnerable and excluded groups or people’s real health-care needs. while respecting the principles of consultation individuals,” says Marie. A strong emphasis has been placed on and participation. “Nonetheless, additional resources are taking a Community Development approach * To view the WHO coverage, log onto: required to reach the most disadvantaged to health and so members of the community www.euro.who.int/socialdeterminants/ groups. In the start up phase this was play a crucial role. Lifford-Clonleigh Resource socmarketing/20080812_2 achieved by an extensive community Centre, one of nine CDPs in Co. Donegal, is consultation process where some 17 focus among the partner organisations. groups were convened specifically to obtain Communities in other parts of the country “Thanks to the Community the views of the ‘hard to reach’ groups,” she are taking a lead from Donegal, and basing Development Programme, national says. their work on what is known as the Lifford/ initiatives such as this can be rolled The feedback from the focus groups Castlefinn model, named after the first area informed the needs assessment which in turn in the county to set up a Primary Care out relatively quickly while respecting informed both the work of the PCT and Team (PCT). It was one of ten pilot projects the principles of consultation and CHF. A second community consultation is established in various parts of the State back participation.” now being undertaken jointly by the Lifford/ in 2003. Castlefinn CHF, the Lifford/Clonleigh Resource Centre and the Castlefinn Local Meaningful Participation Locals Lead Donegal Area Team. “We have been inundated with people Note: A list of the projects established calling to find out how we achieved through the work in Donegal is published om meaningful community participation,” To Good Health the next page. says Lifford’s CDP co-ordinator, Brid In Donegal, real progress has taken place * Nationally, Lifford/Castlefinn was one of McMenamin. because local people had their say on what 10 areas selected in 2001 as pilot projects for To cope with the demand for information, shape new health-focused projects should take. implementing the delivery of primary care and the CDP produced two booklets and a The talking took place through focus the development of community participation as groups (17 in all) and by establishing an integral part of this project was supported Community Health Forums (CHFs) which by the HSE and the Combat Poverty Agency support the participation of community (through its Building Healthy Communities representatives. Now, there are four Primary Programme) Care Teams operating in Co. Donegal (the lead from the ground up – set an example 18. GOOD PRACTICE: IN HEALTH & PARTICIPATION

Local HSE Managers saw the value of Community Health Forum and its working with the community. projects. 2. Excellent Community Consultation, 6. Funding and administrative support. The involving a CDP staff member and an funding from the HSE and from Combat external person as facilitator. Poverty’s Building Healthy Communities 3. Support from the local CDP: The Programme freed up time normally Lifford/Clonleigh Resource Centre work dedicated to fund-raising and that time is based on the Community Development was used wisely. The same stands for approach. It continues to provide support. the administrative support provided by 4. Representation on Primary Care Team. Lifford/Clonleigh Resource Centre. There Having representation on the Primary was also support – as one might expect How to support Primary Care Team (PCT) was central. The Forum – for community participation from the has a slot on the agenda at each Team HSE Local Health Office. Care in your community Meeting. Community involvement was 7. Commitment. Members of the A few factors were key to getting the indispensable for identification of needs Community Health Forum realised the process of Community Participation started and actions such as the extension of significance of primary care and the in Co. Donegal: doctor practice times and locations. opportunities it presented to improve the 1. Local leadership. One advantage 5. Community Work Support. A community health of the population in the Lifford/ Donegal had over other areas was that worker worked on the project initially Castlefinn area. The Forum’s projects some key HSE staff in the county had a 2 days a week and was essential to the would not have been possible without background in Community Development. establishment and development of the their hard work and time invested.

school. such as a physiotherapist occupational Following Good Practice: 5. Public Relations Group: set up to therapist and a social worker inform the local community about the (c) development of a diabetes project. Achievements on the ground work of the Primary Care Team and the Community Health Forum. It also The CDP in Lifford, Co. Donegal has in Donegal submits articles to local newsletters. been very involved in developing community 6. Lone Parent Groups in Lifford and Lifford/Castlefinn Community Health participation in their own Primary Care Team Castlefinn:A lone parent group has been and in the development of other such teams Forum – established with the support of the established in Castlefinn. HSE and the local CDP – has been able to in County Donegal. The need for each of the 7. Information on Rights and above projects was first identified by local establish the following projects. Each one Entitilements. Staff from the Citizen addresses social factors which impact on people. They then helped in the development Information Centres have visited many of the projects. health and well being and the needs were local community groups to answer identified by local people. CDPs nationwide can play a leading role in queries people have on services, rights ensuring communities participate in Primary 1. Carers Group. This group has and entitlements and also ensure participated in activities including Care initiatives. information is kept supplied and up to For health professionals seeking to link training (manual handling), coping skills, date in the local health centres. days away, and law briefings. with CDPs, they will find contact details at: 8. Community Pharmacy: The opening of www.changingireland.ie/resources.html 2. Pension Day Projects in Lifford and a pharmacy in Castlefinn greatly reduced Castlefinn. The Forum set up a weekly Family Resource Centres nationwide also the difficulties of low-income citizens who have a website: www.familyresource.ie For bus service to allow rural pensioners don’t have easy access to transport. collect their pension, visit the local health partnerships, log onto: www.planet.ie and 9. The Lifford/Castlefinn Community www.cpn.ie centre if required, do their shopping and Health Forum is currently working on they meet up for lunch and an activity of 2 new projects. Next year the Lifford/ their own choice at the CDP. Castlefinn Community Health Forum 3. Support for Doneyloop and Castlefinn and the Primary Care Team will Youth Clubs. The lack of facilities for undertake joint training to identify an young people was the most frequently issue of concern to both. It is anticipated raised issue in the community the two groups will merge and work consultation process. Since 2005, together to respond to this issue in Doneyloop Youth Club was established an integrated way. (Funded under the Primary Care and have just completed the mammoth Community Participation Primary Health task of establishing a purpose built youth Care – Joint Demonstration Funding Primary care covers a range of services centre. Castlefinn Youth Club is a large Initiative. designed to keep people well. For example, club with 150 members and gets ongoing 10. Primary Care Team: responded directly it includes screening people for disease. support from the forum to needs identified in the consultation There is a strong emphasis on working 4. Parents and Toddler Group in Lifford process through the: with communities and individuals to and Castlefinn: helped integrate young improve their health and social well-being. (a) expansion of doctor practice times This means dealing with health isolated parents and eased the transition and locations; for their children from home-life to (b) recruitment of health specialists problems at the lowest level of complexity, often preventing people becoming ill rather than curing them afterwards. community workers co-op website developed: www.cwc.ie 19. International Primary Health Care in Africa

Go to the people, not tell them where to go! By Colin Murphy* Women in Bundas, Uganda, working the land after being resettled (following war) with support from the charity group ACT. Taking the Community Development approach to hunger means going to the people and working with them, rather than just telling them where to go for food. It means concentrating on Primary Health Care. On pages 18-19, we look at progress in Primary Health Care in Ireland.

The first thing that you notice when you smallholding. They reduce people who have best fight global hunger. The report’s key step into a feeding centre in Africa is the been fighting for their survival to the status recommendations have the simplicity that stench. It is the smell of the effort to clutch of “beneficiaries” of foreign charity, often comes with ideas that seem, in retrospect, onto life, fetid, desperate. It is difficult to administered by people who look suspiciously obvious: conceive of anyone being able to put up with like the former colonials, except in t-shirts and Focus on smallholder agriculture, it says; it for long. sandals. improving the access of poor people to the But, when you work in such a centre, you ALTERNATIVE: COMMUNITY land will increase productivity. learn you can put up with it. It becomes a DEVELOPMENT APPROACH And promote breastfeeding, and school part of the environment. You learn to see No matter. They save lives. In a crisis, meals, amongst other ways of improving the that battle for survival as something proud, that’s what counts. But, around 2001, an nutrition of mothers and children. that your work supports, and not something alternative emerged. A young, dreadlocked Against a bleak background of rising food pathetic, that you pity. After a while in such a doctor named Steve Collins visited feeding prices and increasing hunger, the report notes place, in some famine-hit part of rural Africa, centres in central Angola, where I was then intriguing successes: Brazil has given cash say, you come to find the successes more a t-shirted and sandaled young aid worker, to small farmers; Malawi has given them exhilarating than the failures are depressing. and talked about a curious idea he had: that fertilisers (which the country could barely Seeing children leave on their feet (or at least the systems of emergency feeding could be afford). In each case, incomes and productivity happily strapped to their mothers’ backs) combined with the well-established ethos of have risen, and hunger levels fallen. makes seeing others leaving for the burial community development. He looked at our There is an idea that runs through these ground more tolerable. Success is measured centres, helped improve them, and then wrote successes, and lies implicit in the task force simply, in statistics: mortality, weight gain, a report suggesting that what we should really report. It is that even the poorest people must malnutrition rates. Good stats make the work be doing was teaching mothers how to treat have a say over how they are helped, and worthwhile. their seriously-ill children in the community. freedom in how to use the help they are given. INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TO It was controversial. Sending things out into THE BUSINESS OF AID FAMINE a community – whether information or goods It may seem, sometimes, like the business Feeding centres have been at the core of the – means forsaking control. Some situations – of aid is blighted by task forces and institutional response to famine for decades. such as conflict – are too unstable to permit special commissions, high-level panels and They have given us our iconic images of white it. Getting it wrong would risk children’s international quangos. But methods change, aid workers holding swollen-bellied black lives. But Collins, backed by Concern, slowly and lessons are learned, and somebody needs children, under plastic tarpaulin in some God- developed the strategy, testing it, gathering to roll them out. forsaken plot of parched land somewhere. scientifically measured positive results, and The idea behind the Hunger Task Force Based on the hospital model, they make testing it some more. was to position Ireland as a world leader in sense to us. They appeal to our instincts for Last year, it was backed by the United developing solutions to global hunger. Our centralised organisation and distribution. Nations and, later, at an Irish Aid meeting in experience of colonisation and famine makes They echo deeply-embedded ideas of discipline Nairobi, Kenya announced it was rolling out us a natural lobbyist for those countries and order. They allow aid workers to run the strategy, now known as “community-based for whom such events are recent history, or and oversee aid programmes efficiently and management of severe acute malnutrition” current affairs. And it may help us give those systematically. across the country. Malawi has already made who are struck by crises our empathy, and not So it’s easy to forget, especially when you it a cornerstone of its public health policy. just our sympathy. That, combined with good work in one, how unnatural they are. They ideas, and political momentum, could be a bring sick people closer together. They require IRISH AID’S HUNGER TASK FORCE potent force for change. mothers to leave the rest of their families for The strategy is one of the elements in the `* Colin Murphy was a volunteer in Kenya weeks at a time, in order to care for one child recent report of the Hunger Task Force, with Concern in the past and today works as who is sick. They prevent mothers (almost a group of international experts asked by a journalist. always mothers) from doing work on their Irish Aid to recommend how aid money can what are the ten easiest vegetables to grow in your garden? 20. Data-Sharing as an Anti-Poverty Tool

New data is slowly being gathered to load into the hub and the project aims to have a full public launch in the coming months. The Data Hub relies on new software technology to “geo-code” statistics, a practice that has become popular among local government bodies in Britain. Data-sharing has been used in London to help respond to anti-social behaviour, among other things. Not all CDBs intend to invest in formal, resourced data-sharing to the extent that Fingal has. However, since 2007, there is an EU requirement on all public bodies holding spatial data related to the environment to advertise the fact that they have it and its agencies in Fingal and should make for better availability. The EU directive is termed In Plain English: CBDs planning and spending in the future. ‘Inspire’. County/City Development Boards (CDBs) Fingal Development Board – as with other St. Vincent De Paul is also reported to were established throughout the State in such boards around the State – is charged be adopting data-sharing as an anti-poverty 2000 as part of an effort to improve local with improving the co-ordination of public strategy, while the Combat Poverty Agency government. One of the board’s core tasks services at local level. Data-sharing fits the bill has long shown how good data is a key is to promote sustainable development. The and is a proven anti-poverty measure. to highlighting poverty and to identifying guidelines state that each Board’s Strategy In October, 2008, the Data Hub was workable solutions. must aim “to improve the economic, social welcomed at Ministerial level and in December and cultural quality of life while ensuring a it was highlighted in a report by Comhar in Resource links: high quality environment.” a list of seven examples nationwide of good Visit the Data Hub at: www.fdb.ie/ There are 34 Boards in the State and practice by City/County Development Boards. fingaldatahub/ their membership includes local government And this year, the project has been chosen for Check out the ‘Report of the Fingal Data politicians and officials and representatives its excellence to represent Ireland at EU level. Sharing Initiative’ at: www.co-operationfingal.ie/ from the social partners, state agencies and The Data Hub works by cross-referencing download/report_Co_Data_Initiative.pdf local development agencies. data from various sources and finding out, For perspective: www.communityindicators. Still wondering? Log onto: www.cdb.ie/ for example, the number of community groups blogspot.com/ whatare.htm and volunteers for any one area of Fingal. To read the ‘Feasibility Study for a Local For instance, Blakestown has 66 community Poverty Index’ written by Trutz Haase groups and 2840 residents engaged in and published in March ’08, check: www. Fingal lead in data- volunteering and the information is publicly combatpoverty.ie/publications available at: www.fdb.ie/fingaldatahub/ Visit the EU’s partly-unfinished site to sharing impresses EU The website is being used as the broom to promote data-sharing in Ireland at: www.b- sweep up the data and present it for cross- inspired.ie Fingal Development Board has developed referencing. a Data Hub, an internet-based, data-sharing The partners behind the Data Hub are: initiative that has been singled out as an Fingal County Council, Fingal County Data-use since the 1830s example of good practice nationally. A full Childcare Committee, the Department public launch of the Data Hub is scheduled of Social and Family Affairs, FÁS, Data-analysis is not a new concept, though for this year. the Blanchardstown Area Partnership, Co- data-sharing marks an advance. Statistical information is now shared – operation Fingal and the HSE and VEC In the 1830s, in the USA, the temperance while respecting individual privacy – between locally. movement used data from poorhouses and jails to show that alcohol was the cause of crime. The American statisticians then measured the acreage of grain devoted to alcohol production to show that production was economically wasteful. European countries began using ‘social indicators’ around the same time to evaluate social problems, leading to today’s EU ‘Inspire’ directive on data-sharing on environmental matters.

21. it’s ok to leave packaging behind in the supermarket? Data-Sharing as an Anti-Poverty Tool

Data sharing can lead to redesign of a whole city Says Ann Brophy of CAFTA

Ann Brophy is a CDP co-ordinator in we have collected, so what do you think planning of services, training, education… it Ballymun and a resident of Fingal. She chairs we should do with it’. They then had focus results in the best practice. If you want to put the committee that manages the Fingal Data groups and workshops and divided the work in a funding application, you can see who Hub which has been invited by the EU – into thematic groups and that’s how the your target group is going to be and you because of the project’s excellence and good redesigning of Boston city came about.” can show there is an interest among named practice – to represent Ireland in a data- agencies in setting up a project. sharing project this year. An anti-poverty strategy In late ‘08, Ann outlined the data-sharing “In 2006, through the Anti-Poverty After ‘geo-coding’, cost is concept to Minister of State, Micháel Kitt, Network here in Ballymun, we looked at data- nominal and received his enthusiastic backing. When sharing as an anti-poverty initiative and my “The most expensive part of data-sharing implemented fully, it can lead to the redesign work with the Data-Hub enabled us to look is geo-coding. Once your data is geo-coded, of a whole city or county. at and give a presentation around the fact then the expense is quite nominal. Geo-coding Ann’s involvement is backed by her board that data-sharing is an anti-poverty strategy is linking data to District Electoral Divisions, of management in Ballymun and she also and a very effective one. But it is a long-term though one of the difficulties is that not all contributes some extra hours as a volunteer strategy and not a short-term one and it agencies store data in the same format or the with the Data Hub. Here, Ann talks to needs to be [supported] at a very high level geographical boundaries are different,” added ‘Changing Ireland’: within agencies and departments, it needs Ann. to be driven and it needs dedicated member Boston City was re-designed groups.” Target-groups become “There’s a brilliant project called the Boston Best practice in delivery numerically visible Indicators Project and Charlotte Chan, the Minister Eamon O’Cuiv spoke last year of head, was in Ballymun and Fingal recently “The most important outcome when you his desire to see greater use made of small and we met her. Ten years ago, they were are doing local area plans, seeking funding or area statistics in delivering services. The where we are now. This is what I would love trying to make the best use of resources in an people in Ballymun and Fingal are the ones to see – they gathered their data in Boston, area, is to have very up-to-date data so you to watch. went to all the agencies and community can see where there is duplication, you can see To read about Boston’s experience, see groups in Boston and said ‘This is the data where there are gaps.” page 23. “Data-sharing results in more effective www.transitiontowns.org 22. International Boston is sharing data for 10 years - in a city where children go to bed hungry Today, Boston is to the forefront in global The BIP was established in 1996 as a “one- socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, or generational.” terms in showing how data-sharing works. stop shop” to address data disarray and the It says its work is more than just a A decade old, the Boston Indicators Project project seeks to democratise access to data, project: it is a tool for civic engagement (BIP) has become a cornerstone of the foster informed public debate, and track and collaboration. The project has laid the American city’s plans for dealing with social progress on shared civic goals. The project is foundations for collaborative action that will issues. guided by a diverse and cross-sectoral group have to be sustained for a generation to fully “In low-income neighborhoods of Boston, and has led to greater cohesion and consensus attain what it wants. one child in three goes to bed hungry,” points than was previously imagined possible. out Margaret Sloat of Project Bread. SIMILAR CHALLENGE IN Boston has shown that – while data gives BOSTON’S TEN GOALS IRELAND us a measure of poverty – it is better again Loosely speaking, just as the United when agencies and communities share data, However, the BIP warns that “institutional Nations has its Millennium Development resistance to change affects Greater Boston’s because it can lead to positive change on the Goals, Boston has ten socio-economic, cultural ground. collective ability to address important social and democracy goals. It falls to the BIP to problems”. Similar resistance to change is The project aims through number-crunching measure progress on: civic vitality, cultural and making wise decisions “to make Boston said by Limerick Regeneration boss Brendan life and the arts, the economy, education, the Kenny to be as big a threat, if not the biggest a better place to live, work, play, and learn.” environment, health, housing, public safety, Over the years, the BIP’s focus has shifted of all threats, to successful regeneration in the technology, and transportation. city. from data-sharing to strategizing to policy Over the years, the BIP has brought making. Now, the BIP does all three. Nonetheless, if Boston’s experience shows thousands of people together - from school one thing it is that data-sharing feeds directly On crime, the BIP found that 85% of children and engaged residents to academic the city’s crime was concentrated in the into lobbying for policy change. and community-based experts. In Ireland, to a certain extent, the Combat disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Dorchester, The project seeks to build consensus, or Mattapan, and Roxbury. These areas also Poverty Agency part-fulfilled the roles of data- at least broad support, for achieving its collection, analysis and lobbying for many experience the greatest poverty. And, in goals. The BIP claims to work “because it looking at the city’s rich-poor divide, the BIP years. The agency is currently being absorbed gets stakeholders to imagine a shared future into the Department of Social and Family found that the richest five per cent of Boston’s beyond traditional time constraints, such population saw their real incomes double over Affairs. as election cycles, and to venture across Meanwhile, a new EU directive, called the last two decades while the poorest people traditional boundaries, whether geographic, experienced a meagre 16% rise. INSPIRE, has ordered Governments in Europe to engage in greater data-sharing at regional and national level. Boston’s Project Bread experience in this area may be worth learning provides healthy school from. meals to children in Boston whose families BOSTON LINKS: struggle to put food www.bostonindicators.org on the table. Boston www.tbf.org/indicatorsProject/ values data-sharing www.articlearchives.com/environment- between agencies and natural-resources/land-use/966894-1.html communities to deal www.unlv.edu/centers/cdclv/healthnv/ with such challenges. introduction.html On page 22, we focus http://slaverevoltradio.blogspot. on data-sharing in com/2006/08/poverty-in-boston-what-poverty. Fingal, Ireland. html www.projectbread.org

23. www.transitiontownkinsale.org News And Views He’s one of us! Obama started out as a Community Development Worker He’s one of us! Barack Obama worked as a community,” he is reported to have insisted. resonated throughout the campaign - and will low-paid community organiser in the mid-80s. Obama has spoken of the huge impact of be sorely needed in the coming months. For a paltry $10,000 a year, he campaigned those years in community work. “It was on • The above report was written by Radhika in challenging housing estates in Chicago’s these neighbourhoods that I received the best Bynon who posted her comments on a South Side, where black families struggled education I ever had” he said in the speech British website promoting social change. to get basic services. It was the unglamorous announcing his candidacy. It “taught me a From an Irish perspective, Obama is “one work typical of all community work - getting lot about listening to people as opposed to of us” in an even deeper sense, having Irish asbestos removed, getting landlords to coming in with a predetermined agenda.” ancestors. The website Radhika posted her undertake repairs, but with an explicit focus Community workers are collaborators, we comments to provides a British perspective on helping local people to be the agents of work to bring people together around shared on Community Development issues: http:// change, not doing it for them. “It’s your goals, and his commitment to those values comlinks.beepweb.co.uk/linksuk/

Who gets Read about an already established Funding for Galway and successful scheme – and the role of the local CDP in that success - on The next print edition of ‘Changing Ireland’ pages 18 and 19. The World Health garden projects will be published in May. While we are Organisation has drawn attention to the Two projects in Galway received funding expanding our website, the printed magazine work accomplished in Donegal. from the Department of the Environment remains just as important as before. It still under the Local Agenda 21 Environmental reaches at least twice as many people as we Partnership Fund to develop their reach through our website. community gardens. Westside Community ‘Changing Ireland’ has a print circulation Campaigners afraid Organic Garden gets €500 while of 5000 copies and goes to a lot more people Ballybane/Mervue CDP receives €1,351 for than those working in or managing CDPs. their community organic garden. While 11% of our readers work in CDPs to speak out Issue 27 of ‘Changing Ireland’ was a and they are the most avid readers, our The Equality & Rights Alliance (ERA) green edition (in terms of production readers are also drawn from the wider world has continued to campaign following as well as content) and reported on of community policing, local development, Government decisions that have led to Ballybane’s success. To read more, elected TDs, Senators and MEPs, students of the demise of the NCCRI, the impending log onto www.changingireland.ie and community development, university libraries, absorption of the Combat Poverty Agency download Issue 27 or go to the Resources city and county enterprise boards, disability into the Department of Social and Family section where there is even more detail. organisations, NGOs, trade unions, national Affairs and a decline in the position of the umbrella bodies, state agencies such as the Equality Authority and the Human Rights NESC, the media, RAPID, CLAR, LEADER Commission. and other programmes, Pobal. “The state bodies established to support Cork’s 3 new teams The magazine is distributed to senior social justice and fairness for all have Three new Primary Care Teams civil servants and to other staff working in been dismantled in a matter of months,” says the ERA. “What’s worse, many (PCTs) were launched in West Cork – in community-related positions. The magazine also goes directly to the homes of a couple representative groups are afraid to speak Dunmanway, Skibbereen and Mizen – in out in case they too are silenced under the mid-October of last year. of hundred Community Development workers and volunteers who have subscribed guise of recession economics.” More teams are being set around the ERA represents many national and country. The Combat Poverty Agency are independently over the years. Up to 2,200 more people download the local organisations and groups, including currently working in partnership with CDPs. It recently urged members to write the HSE (through its Consumer Affairs magazine from our website. To subscribe or unsubscribe to our print in protest to the Taoiseach. Unit and its Primary, Community and More info: www.eracampaign.org Continuing Care Directorate) to pilot edition, contact the administrator by email models of community participation in at [email protected] or phone 061- PCTs in 19 areas. 458090 to talk to Tim directly. The editor’s number is 061-458011.

www.edenmore.blogspot.com 24. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME NEWS

purpose is. This follows a review of the Projects down 6% as Programme which took place last year. The € Programme is now in its 19th year and has Programme provides 21m been regularly reviewed. It represents some of the best value spending by any Government Core funding of €20,802 million has been Department. For every euro received by CDPs, allocated for 2009 to 177 projects under the two more euro are raised elsewhere to triple Community Development Programme. the impact, as CDPs in the Eastern Region The Programme pays the salaries of demonstrated two years ago. Nationwide, tens around 350 workers who are employed by of thousands of volunteer hours are also given the voluntary boards of local Community freely. Emma Freeman. Development Projects and it also covers Meanwhile, projects are planning a national overheads in community centres run by these meeting shortly to address questions over the boards. Programme which is important especially in reviews and other matters of concern to CDPs these times of cutbacks,” said Emma Freeman While Programme funding is down 15% and their communities. from the €24.5m allocated in 2008, projects’ who is one of those behind the study. Two-thirds of CDPs are in urban areas, one- “Other development programmes – RAPID, frontline services and activities have been third in rural. There are about 180 projects, protected to a degree in that costs were Partnerships, FRC’s and LDTF’s have with 118 in RAPID areas and 19 in CLAR such a voice, the Community Development reduced elsewhere, at regional support level areas. and within the Department. Programme is the only government funded Nonetheless, the drop in core-funding means local development programme not to have CDPs have had to cut their spending in 2009 Independent study of one.” by 6%. Partnership Companies and other The Programme is 19 years old this year Government-funded community initiatives have Programme and supports around 180 volunteer-led CDPs also experienced cuts. around the country. Emma urges projects that have not yet As far back as November, the Minister The Ballymun-led study into setting up acknowledged the reduction would “present made a contribution to the study and who a bottom-up National Structure for the wish to do so to contact her. Emma works significant challenges in the short-term” but Community Development Programme added that the Programme will “continue to with CAP in Ballymun. T: 01-883-2159. E: is progressing with Grainne Healey and [email protected] support the mobilisation of local communities Hibernian Consultants carrying out the work. to tackle disadvantage.” The Programme for many years had a A number of projects have written to the National Advisory Committee, but it was Department and the Minister to point out the disbanded over a year ago as the Department The Programme works: negative impact of the 6% cut on activities at began a review of the Programme’s structures. local level. A regional network survives in most regions Measured impacts In the past, the Programme’s Support and projects have their say through bodies The following shows part of the impact of Agency structure accounted for 10% of the such as the Community Workers Co-op, The the Community Development Programme in overall Programme budget and this was Wheel and through the regional networks, but disadvantaged communities in 2006: dropped during 2008, prior to the recession the Programme currently lacks a collective • 153,660 hours contributed by biting hard. During 2009, technical and voice to speak up for the most marginalised volunteers (equaling 4390 weeks’ work legal services are being provided directly or communities in Ireland. or approximately 94 years’ work). indirectly from the Department to projects on The researchers have received 111 filled-out • Over 6,000 groups received a need-only basis. questionnaires and met with projects at five information/advice. Without the Support Agencies, projects locations around the country. The aim is to • 367 new groups were started up. are now networking more in some parts and identify possible models for a national office • 30,697 people were in education and collaborating to fill the gap. The Department for the Programme. Of 111 projects polled, training through CDPs. also recognised the need to connect more with 110 supported the concept. • 257,704 people received resources/ projects at regional level and in November the So far, it has been suggested that the services Eastern Region Network meeting of CDPs following would be necessary for a national • 240,174 people received information/ was jointly organised by the CDPs and by the structure to work: there should be a minimum advice. Department. However, this practice may not of two staff and the office could be located • 1,400 additional staff were employed be continued. in an existing CDP, the Regional Networks through CDPs. Currently, some projects are being reviewed, would need to be strengthened, an Annual • €35 million in additional funds was although it is not precisely clear what the National Conference would determine the generated by CDPs (on top of the remit of the national body, and a variety of Programme budget). funding options need to be examined. The statistics were quoted in a Dublin projects, through the Eastern background paper on the Community Region Network, said the study should include Development Programme prepared by the a review of the 110-plus submissions made last Department of Community, Rural and year to the Department as part of a review of Gaeltacht Affairs in 2007. the Programme. A number of projects are currently being “We are trying to establish a national voice examined to establish the Programme’s to advocate on behalf of and support the impact in greater detail.

25. www.greenlivingtips.com Regeneration and Tenants Participation

Literature review: REGENERATION WORKS IF THERE ARE NO VESTED INTERESTS

The research article here was born out of a CDP co-ordinator’s frustration and it shares useful information for anyone engaged in Community Development and working to promote tenants’ participation in housing issues. In the author’s case, a Regeneration programme was announced for a dilapidated estate, the community’s hopes were raised and a sustained period of consultation followed. Then everything stalled. The consultation cost €1m and there was A new book has been little to show for it. The local residents’ group resigned from the process and folded up in desperation. The CDP in the published that lifts the area was the main local representative group, but relations with the local authority were not what they should have been. lid on failed regeneration The CDP co-ordinator invested time in researching housing law and found to his surprise “a clearly worked out step-by-step schemes in Dublin. policy” that made it legally binding (since 1992!) for local authorities to involve tenants in estate management. “This might ‘Regeneration: public good have national implications as it is probably the same in other areas,” said the co-ordinator. Perhaps, though estate or private profit?’ by John management is the norm in many places. With equal surprise, the community were caught off guard – this time in a Bisset is available from good way – by the appointment of a new Chief Executive of housing in November. “Suddenly, Dundalk Urban District all good bookstores, priced Council completely changed their tune. The new man is all for tenants participation, he wants to get powers delegated to €15. estate management committees, to get the committees set up quickly… it’s all action once more,” said the co-ordinator, Maurice McConville of Le Cheile CDP. In the meantime, not to be caught out ever again, Maurice – a reporter for ‘Changing Ireland’ - has highlighted the law on housing. Local authorities need to be held to account across the country, he says, and CDPs are in the right place to do so.

Maurice McConville writes affluence.” Successive governments have Future Progress.’ viewed public housing as some form of welfare The article raises the question: “Why has The concentration of disadvantaged people and not given it the support and finance progress been slow and patchy throughout in local authority estates in not an accident. required to develop a strong public housing the country?” The authors conclude that local It is the outcome of planning or the lack of sector, as exists in other countries. authorities’ progress in reforming aspects of planning, over many decades. If CDPs are to Attempts to rescue social housing from housing management has been impeded by have any impact in run-down urban areas, we decades of neglect were made in ‘A Plan for powerful vested interests within the system. need to address housing as an issue. To do Social Housing’ (a 1991 White Paper) which In his book, O’Connell dismisses, “...too this we need to have a handle on how we have led to the Housing Miscellaneous Act 1992. much tenants participation practice as being got to where we are now. This law beefed up the responsibility that local too narrowly focused around the interest Most disadvantaged people in Ireland live authorities had for housing, increasing their of the dominant power holders within the in local authority housing. This is a simple responsibilities. housing service.” fact but why is this the case? The reasons Local authorities were also made more In our work, many CDPs will try to are mostly to do with Ireland’s historical accountable towards their tenants and the promote tenants’ participation. However treatment of social housing, as welfare wider community and obliged by law to to do this we need to be clear where it is housing. be more strategic in the planning. Under leading and not be used to deliver another Cathal O’Connell in ‘The State and Section 9 of the Act, local authorities have unequal system, where tenants and residents Housing in Ireland’ explains that the to produce a written “statement of policy for are responding to an agenda set by vested concentration of disadvantage within areas the effective performance of their function interests within the system. of social housing is because of continuing of managing their rented accommodation.” We need to understand the law around government policies favouring home- This has to include how they engage with housing, the responsibility of local authorities ownership. O’Connell’s book is an in-depth their tenants. This is useful information if and the rights of tenants. But we also need and historical study of housing in Ireland. you are attempting to work with the local to see the weaknesses in the systems of Home ownership rose from 60% (in 1961) authority around housing issues and tenants’ management. to 82% (in 1999) and is one of the highest participation. For regeneration to take place, the capacity in Europe. At the same time, Ireland’s social Unfortunately, the expected progress in of tenants and residents needs to be developed housing has shrunk from 18.4% (in 1961) the management of social housing has not alongside a critical analysis of how housing is to 8% (in 1999). Compared to other others materialised as expected. The reasons for this managed and in whose interests. If we achieve European countries, Ireland’s social housing has been explored in an article published some sort of a level playing field – where the is small, with Netherlands at 35% and the UK in 2002 by Michelle Norris and Cathal agenda is not that of housing management, at 25% (according to an EU survey in 2001). O’Connell called ‘Local Authority Housing but is a genuine attempt to meet the O’Connell says we have a two-tier housing Management Reform In The Republic Of communities needs – then we can make strides system here with “public squalor amid private Ireland: Progress To Date - Impediments To rather than just inching forward. never believe in mirrors or newspapers 26. Roscommon’s Famous Quilt SHOWS UP IN BRUSSELS

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins brought intercultural dialogue was all about. The eight women from the Roscommon Women’s project has brought together people, cultures Network to Brussels late last year. The women and identities that would not normally come – part of the group of 28 ‘intercultural together in everyday life. We need to remove quilters’ who produced the now famous barriers to further integration we need to Roscommon Quilt - were guests of Mr Higgins understand people living in Ireland who during a celebration of Irish and African are not Irish and we need to help them music at the Institute for Ireland in Europe. understand what it means to be Irish so that They also attended a conference with him. we have a mutual respect for each other and The Roscommon Quilt has toured many our cultures,” he said. The Roscommon Quilt has turned into a parts of Ireland and this was its first Before going to Brussels, the Roscommon magic carpet as it continues to travel far and international venture. It was created by women Quilt was used to unveil a stone marking the wide. MEP Jim Higgins was highly impressed from Ireland, UK, Pakistan, America, Russia, UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty on and recently brought the Quilt to Brusssels, Brazil, Germany, and a number of African October 17th. along with participants and development workers countries. For more information, contact Roscommon from Roscommon CDP: Nora Fahy, Patrica Mr Higgins said he was delighted to be able Women’s Network CDP. T: 094-962-1690. E: Madden, Bernadette Downs, Monika Kaboth, to showcase the CDP’s work. [email protected] or [email protected] Mary Mongan, Margaret Mongan, Freha Faleem “I think the project is a fantastic and Maria Harris. representation of what exactly the year of

Dear Mrs Cant, Horace Says Look, they may be onto something. The Dear Breakfast Roll Man, Taoiseach gets paid more than President Obama What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger but or just about any other leader for that matter. if it tastes good it’s generally bad for you! On the other hand, I think leaders nowadays get penalty points if they smile. When’s the last I’m Worried About The Economy time you saw Obama or Cowen smile? Since no Dear Horace, Dubliner could keep to keep a serious face for Why is the country going from bad long, I’m ruling out all Dublin Travellers for the to worse? Everything was going so well job. That means we’re talking about a Traveller and now look at us - the housing market, Taoiseach from the sticks. the banks, the pork industry all taking a Which brings up a new problem –if she hammering. What’s next and what can we gets elected and needs Traveller Specific do? Accommodation I think she’ll have to commute. Sincerely Eoin D. Banks I’m Dying To Find Out Is Food Safe? Don’t Know How Much We Owe Dear Horace, Dublin 54 Isn’t it mad that a couple of months ago they could find poison in pork products Horace here to help! Are Travellers off their rockers? yet still reassure us that there is no risk Well for a while we were all on the pigs back Dear Horace, to our health even if we ate a jumbo roll living high on the hog but now our asses are I hear some of them Travellers you’d for breakfast dinner and tea for the last 3 all in the bacon slicer because the government be having in the magazine fancy a go at months. Before this dioxin scare those same has made a sows ear of our silk purse economy. becoming Taoiseach. [Ed’s note: Read our rolls were a heart attack in tin foil. What’s The tigers gone and the chickens are coming report on this on page 6] Are they off their going on? Is it true that sausages and ham home to roost so Dublin Zoo and the poultry rockers or what? I mean who’d want that are safe to eat or is the government telling farmers are next to be hit. The only way we’ll job right now? porkies? get through this is by paying more excise duty Some people love to pick on minorities. Yours truly, on alcohol, increasing our human exports and Look at poor Obama – he’s black and they Breakfast Roll Man qualifying for the World Cup. gave him the worst job in the world. Can we Petrol Service Station talk them out of it Horace? Mrs. Cant Fathomchange, Chairperson (retired), Tiger Preservation Assocation, Ireland

27. 30% of the population have medical card cover – hse in dec. ‘08 Fergal (a counsellor) here now. When I was “It’s totally confidential, we have childcare in prison I got a few people to link up with here, there’s a good team here. You’ve tea REAL VOICES: Dublin the counsellor here and you don’t know the and biscuits and good company. It makes difference it made to them when they got out. a real difference to drug users.” I’ve told a few of my mates they should call in Everyone knows the cost of going to drug-users on outreach here or they’ll end up in prison.” prison, to both the person and the State. In Inchicore, Dublin, the most 2ND DRUG USER: “You can get in off Community development initiatives can vociferous promoters of the Outreach the street and you have support if you’re save society from much harm in the long Centre are the clients. Two drug-users having a bad day. If you think you’re going run. told Allen Meagher how they value the to use, you can come in and have a talk with For more information on the work of place and urge their pals to attend before someone, you know what I mean. If you’re our CDP in Inchicore – St. Michael’s problems lead to prison. having some family problems, they’ll help you Family Resource Centre - check out: 1st DRUG-USER: “I was locked up for out.” www.stmichaelsestate.ie/projects/family_ a few months there, but I’m linked up to PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR, Rita Fagan: eng.html

not then, but two years later - when two more deprivation. children were nearly burned to death in their Read our coverage of Regeneration in On Regeneration: car in an arson attack in Moyross. This was, Dublin and Limerick inside. Also, Nick In memory of Katelyn Ryan in media-term, ‘a story with legs’ because Murphy tells how he “found his feet in It’s not widely known but a child died the victims survived. The media coverage, Ballymun” while Regeneration was still a in an arson attack in a disadvantaged area community protests and general public foreign word in Ireland. in Limerick city in 2003. Katelyn Ryan outrage put pressure on politicians to take We also report from St. Margaret’s from Prospect was four. Seven members of radical action. in Ballymun where the Community her family were injured and the arsonist is Regeneration chief Brendan Kenny credits Development Project represent, support now serving a life sentence. The incident then Minister, Michael McDowell, as being and include people who have lost out in happened in one of the country’s most the key politician to respond. Regeneration. deprived and gang-dominated areas. This year, Regeneration receives €28 The coverage is dedicated to the The establishment (including the media) million (half of which will go towards memory of Katelyn Ryan and to all those, took little notice and the catalyst for the relocation, controversially) and over the next particularly children and older people, regeneration of Limerick’s alienated and decade Limerick needs €1.7 billion from the who suffered while the Celtic Tiger swept disadvantaged local authority estates came Government to recover from the decades of by without giving them a lift.

Video Competition ‘Changing Ireland’ is inviting to you get out your digital camera and send in your short videos. Most cameras nowadays have a video option. Win the competition and we will feature your project on our home page. We’re looking for videos no longer than 2 minutes, showing what Community Development work your CDP is involved and we can edit and merge them for you. and where possible from the national in, the difference it makes, and the people 3. Do not include any copyright material media. it makes a difference to. such as soundtracks of recorded artists. 6. Videos should be e-mailed or posted 4. Competition is open to all CDPs. on CD in a suitable format e.g. AVI, MP3 GUIDELINES Other organisations engaged in Community or one of the numerous video files. Do Videos should be made on the theme of Development are also welcome to send in NOT convert them to DVD format. If you Community Development in your area. videos for upload onto our regular video wish to use a mobile phone to shoot video, 1. Videos must be original material page. call the ‘Changing Ireland’ office for details produced by the CDP. 5. Videos must be received by 5pm on of where to send the video to. Remember, 2. Maximum length is 2 minutes. If you Friday, April 3rd. The winning video(s) will quality is important. Contact details on need to, send in a number of short clips receive full publicity from ‘Changing Ireland’ pages 2.

‘Changing Ireland’,c/o Community Enterprise Centre, Moyross, Limerick T: 061-458011 (editorial) / 458090 (admin). E: [email protected] W: www.changingireland.ie