Mattie McGrath Accuses Government of Betraying Community Workers
Mattie McGrath spoke in support of the community and voluntary sector and called for wage increases, saying many workers have not had a raise for 14 years. He criticised the government for failing to care for and support local community groups and highlighted a community employment scheme in Newcastle.
Wage and sector support
McGrath argued the community and voluntary sector are "the glue" that keep the country together and said they deserve pay increases after 14 years without a raise. He urged the government to stop neglecting these groups and to show respect and support for their work.
Newcastle community employment scheme
He described the local community employment scheme in Newcastle, active since 1996, and paid tribute to the late Anne Association, who served as treasurer until recently at the age of 93. McGrath emphasised the hands-on contribution of volunteers who managed day-to-day tasks like signing cheques.
Voluntary board and supervision
He named members of the voluntary board including Tom Lundigan, the late Madeline Lundigan, Liam Kelly and himself, and praised the supervisor Sean Burnham and his team. McGrath listed local areas served - Ballybake in Grains, Newcastle, Ballamacabry in Cundi and Port Lauriga - and noted their involvement in tidy towns, community halls and local projects.
Projects, participants and local impact
McGrath highlighted participants such as James O'Neill, who he said is spearheading property marketing nationally from a small village base, and mentioned community assets like Tignadina community house, Neenra and the new community hall extension. He stressed the dignity, passion and progression of participants who have moved on to further opportunities.
Criticism of government and acknowledgement of officials
He accused the government of devastating communities and of betraying and dismissing voluntary groups, and urged colleagues to listen to what these groups do. He also thanked officials Michael Lormand, Stephen Burke and Catherine Corbett in the DSP for their understanding and support of the scheme.
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I want to support the community and voluntary sector and the wage increases. They haven't had a wage increase for 14 years. What other section would put up with that? These are the glue, these are the bidding blocks that keep our country together. They are under voluntary boards in many cases. And what are you, the government? You actually are, like the pirate and the mica, devastating these communities. You don't care about them, you don't respect them, you don't support them, you're not going to call them. That's what you don't do. I wanted to be a bit parochial of mine and talk about her own community employment scheme in Newcastle, there since 1996, and to pay tribute to the late Anne Association, she was a treasurer up to a couple of months ago, before she was, at the age of 93, she was still our treasurer, very active mind and signing cheques and everything each week for us. I want to support the other members of the voluntary board, Tom Lundigan, the late Madeline Lundigan, Liam Kelly and myself and others. And then we have the supervisor, Sean Burnham, a wide range of skills taken out in three parishes, Ballybake in Grains, Newcastle, and indeed Ballamacabry in Cundi, Port Lauriga. And the work that they do in the community, in tidy towns, community halls, in the Neenra, the flourishing Neenra that we have in Cosla and Neewa, and indeed in the community hall, and the new extension there, and went to the theatre hall, and the brilliant work done by Catherine Moran there, participants. To visit, visitation then for community left groups at Vids and Deilery, we have a participant actually spearheading, James O'Neill, spearheading the property marketing throughout the country, recently launched in Manor, but spearheading from a small place in Cosla and Neewa, and we have Tignadina, which is a community house, and the national rollout of the marketing is taking, the property marketing is taking place from that little village, a foot in the shore, a foot in the slater, around the river shore, and there are tremendous work done, as I said, by the voluntary committee that keeps that organisation afloat, and that's by the owners, and the supervisor, as I said, Sean Burnham, and his team, and the dignity of the work, and the progression that we have had, they've moved on to many other different degrees, and the projects they've taken on, but above all the care that they give, and the love they have, and the passion for their jobs, they love going to work, they love playing a part, and they're being hived off then at different ages, and the battle to keep them on and retain them, and as I said, we've had a huge progression rate, and if you listen, Harry, rather than talking amongst yourselves, and have an understanding of what they do, support them, not betray them, and dismiss them, 14 years, waiting for a prize in Greece is shocking, and my focal score, I'd like to thank Michael Lormand, Stephen Burke, and Catherine Corbett, in the DSP as well, without them we couldn't function, they are understanding officials, and we appreciate that. Thank you.
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