Mr Black stated:
“It is extremely cynical for the politicians to provide the centre with only 3 months’ funding. They don’t want people to see the reality of their cuts before the election. The cut in funding has already seen the cost to the cost double for some parents! This just isn’t affordable for parents on low incomes. Already, some parents have had to cut back on sending their child to Playzone. The centre couldn’t even afford an Easter party for the kids!”
“It’s clear that the politicians aim to close the centre when the election is out of the way- they cannot be relied upon. It was the protest action by staff and parents blocking the road that got the politicians’ attention when the cuts first came on the agenda. To secure proper funding, a democratic campaign which links the workers with parents and the wider community needs to be built.”
Emergency job creation scheme needed now
UCD economist, Morgan Kelly, was pilloried by the establishment back in May when he said it was no longer a case of whether Ireland would go bankrupt but when.
Northern Ireland's largest trade union, NIPSA, has completed elections for its executive body, the general council. In a significant turnaround from last year's results, the left activist group, NIPSA broad left, which includes Socialist Party members, scored a spectacular success.
By Peter Taaffe, from Socialism Today, monthly magazine of the Socialist Party (CWI England and Wales)