A SAVAGE cut to a Northside community service has sparked a bitter war of words between a local Labour TD and a Fine Gael councillor.
Deputy Patrick Nulty (Lab) and Cllr Kieran Dennison (FG) locked horns over a funding cut of 11 per cent (
?¬100,000) to the Blanchardstown Area Partnership (BAP).
The cut comes on top of a further 13 per cent cut in Government funding last year.
Local TD Patrick Nulty described the cut as
“mean spirited
? in light of the
“tremendous work
? carried out by BAP.
But the statement prompted a sharp response from Cllr Kieran Dennison (FG) who is chairman of the partnership.
“It’s a bit hard to stomach such statements issued by a TD from his plush offices in the Dáil,
? Cllr Dennison told Northside People.
“I mean, what exactly is he doing for the community other than issuing statements in which he deflects responsibility for his role in a Government that has made these cuts.
“He was elected as a TD in this area so it would be nice if he could point to what exactly he’s done to make a submission on our behalf.
?
Cllr Dennison insisted that his outburst was not born out of party politics. But Deputy Nulty described the remarks as
“bizarre and confusing
?.
“I think it’s a bit rich for a Fine Gael councillor to criticise me for highlighting a cut which his party introduced,
? he stated.
“I have every right to highlight unfair cuts such as that being passed down to BAP and I find it, frankly, quite bizarre that rather than be grateful for the issue being highlighted, the chairman of the programme has criticised me for doing so.
“My job is to speak out against unjust cuts and I’ve no time for playing silly games with important issues such as these and I make no apologies for that.
“I have visited the partnership on many occasions and I have been fighting tooth and nail to oppose cuts.
?
He added:
“I think my track record of opposing cuts to the extent of exiting the parliamentary party stands for itself.
?
Blanchardstown Area Partnership is not alone in suffering cutbacks as 50 other similar organisations will see their funding cut from between seven and 11 per cent under the Local Community Development funding stream.
The Dublin 15 community service is responsible for identifying and responding to local needs through consultation and by working with community groups.
According to the partnership’s chief executive Linda Curran, the extent of the cut was
“disappointing but not altogether unexpected
?.
“We will try to preserve the services at all costs and the board of directors will meet in January to discuss how this can be achieved and to review all options,
? she stated.
“The size of the cut is disappointing in the context of how we serve one of the biggest catchment areas which has a very high level of unemployment.
“However, the cut has to be viewed and accepted in terms of the country’s overall economic situation when tough decisions have to be made in terms of Government funding.
?