Reilly must find a way to make health budget work without cuts to Cope Foundation – Sinn Féin

Reilly must find a way to make health budget work without cuts to Cope Foundation – Sinn Féin Sinn Féin is to urge Cork City Council to oppose any further cuts in funding for the Cope Foundation in the next budget. Cllr. Chris O’Leary said that the motion that the party is bringing before Council tonight will strengthen local political support for the Cork-based charity and comes in the wake of tangible public out-cry about the situation. Cllr. O’Leary said: “We know that the Cope Foundation is struggling already under the weight of the cuts imposed on it in last year’s budget. The crucial services provided by Cope will be seriously undermined if we sit back and allow the Government to slash the organisation’s budget once gain. It is simply unacceptable for Minister Reilly to say that these cuts are unavoidable. With this motion we are telling him that he must look harder. He must find a way of making the Department’s budget work without further victimising the people who depend on Cope.” “There is absolutely no justification for cutting financial support and resources especially while the number of people relying on Cope is increasing. The cuts proposed in the coming budget have plunged the organisation into an even deeper chasm of uncertainty. Cllr. O’Leary continued by stressing that the fear felt in community of people dependent on Cope is very real, present and cannot be ignored. “This isn’t a cut that will be washed away by the dawning of a new year. It will be felt far into the future and it will be visible in Cope’s decreased capacity to deliver essential services. My Sinn Féin colleagues and I have received numerous letters and e-mails from the families of most affected. I assume that representatives from the other parties have received similar communications. The anger is tangible and these cuts that these cuts will be met with fierce resistance the closer we get to the budget in December. The passing of this motion will help to strengthen political support, here in Cork, for the Cope Foundation.” “It is special needs assistants one week, home helps the next and now it’s the Cope Foundation. Where will this all end? When our social infrastructure is completely decimated? The agenda of this government is a farce. It is not about political reform or fiscal discipline. It is simply austerity. This government is making the vulnerable pay for a crisis that was created by those at the top of society.” ENDS For further information please contact that Cllr. Chris O’Leary on 0872794307 or Sinn Féin PRO Darren O’Keeffe