Event report

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D. met virtually with 3 groups – Cork City Partnership, Donegal Youth Service, Dublin North East Inner City Partnership (NEIC) on 14 October 2021 to discuss a number of Conference topics. The Donegal Youth Service participants included several second level students who are participants in projects run by that organisation. NEIC participants included officers who work with the Larkin Unemployed Service, the Early Learning Initiative, and Dublin City Community Co-op. Suggestions and proposals raised under each topic are as follows: Health • If people’s basic needs go unmet, this perpetuates poverty and adversely affects their mental and physical health. • Proper and readily accessible community facilities that provide venues for people to meet and get involved in programmes/access supports are essential • Funding for awareness-raising campaigns/educational programmes to provide for alcohol abuse prevention and support initiatives. These should include resources accessible to community development workers who are involved with addiction/substance abuse etc. • A lot of white noise comes from the EU and an information overload – information needs to be more streamlined so that it reaches people and is more accessible • More linked up approach and more policies that promote health and wellbeing Education Culture Youth and Sport • EU sports grants are crucial for young people and their mental health • PEACE funding has played an important role in the life of young people in border communities. Should not be taken for granted and need to be maintained. • Long-term funding would be a better method of implementing peace funding – projects /young people feel under a lot of pressure with short term funding (numbers attending etc.) • Erasmus expanded to secondary schools to help with a holistic education experience • Common module on EU studies in every member state in the EU • Obesity – EU should fund a small gym/gym instructor in every large secondary school in the EU to tackle rising childhood obesity levels • Sporting competitions at EU level – not targeted at elite athletes but for all young people and consisting of competitions between schools and member states. Has the capacity to encourage greater cooperation between member states. A Stronger Economy, Jobs and Social Justice • Value of EU programmes in inner city regeneration areas is extremely important • Huge need for social enterprise and social economy supports that tackle issues like getting people into the workforce, underemployment, overemployment • EU support is needed for capital funding for childcare and youth services. Provision of practical supports is something the EU needs to improve on. • The EU can seem very far removed from people who most need its assistance; lots of programmes do not permeate through the community. • Lots of work to be done on the EU multi annual funding model. • Introduction of a minimum living wage across the EU • EU Right to Dignity in the workplace • Precarious situation of workers from migrant communities who work in low-paid employment requires particular attention. Many are in low-paid work (not earning enough to support their families); experience literacy issues, and are agency workers therefore have limited job security. • Directive 2014/24 with regards tendering and public procurement is not working in our community. Huge (audit) burden being placed on local groups • The EU Child guarantee is very important to areas like ours. • Greater knowledge of systems and funding available is needed. This was far better in previous decades than today. Increasing professionalization is worrying trend that needs to be countered.