THE MINISTER for Justice has rejected the suggestion that cuts to the budget of the Equality Authority will be reversed, as had been claimed by the leader of the Green Party, John Gormley, at the party’s recent conference.
Dermot Ahern said in a written answer to a question from Sinn Féin’s spokesman on justice Aengus Ó Snodaigh that the number of staff decentralised from Dublin to Roscrea would shortly increase from 15 to 23, and that there could be no review of funding of any public body “without reference to the grave exchequer position”.
However, a Green Party spokesman said last night that it was their understanding that there would not be any further decentralisation of Equality Authority staff to Roscrea.
“The funding for the authority will be reviewed with a view to ensuring it can function effectively. As far as we are concerned that position has not changed,” added the spokesman.
In his statement, Mr Ahern said the authority’s new strategic plan “represents a new direction for the authority to enable it to meet its complex mandate, and recognises the changing financial circumstances in which all public service bodies are operating”.
Speaking to delegates on the opening night of his party conference, Mr Gormley said: “One of the issues that has caused deep concern and upset in our party has been the changes to the Equality Authority . . . At our membership meetings I undertook to have those changes reversed.
“And I’m very glad to report to you this evening that we have succeeded in our mission.
“The planned further decentralisation of staff has been stopped and a further review of funding for the Equality Authority undertaken to ensure that it can do its work effectively.”
However, Mr Ahern told Mr Ó Snodaigh: “The deputy will appreciate that no review of funding of any public body at present can operate without reference to the grave exchequer position.”
Referring to the continued decentralisation of the authority, he said he had recently agreed in principle to a request from the chair of the Equality Authority to delay on hardship grounds the transfer of four to five staff to Roscrea.
The number decentralising from Dublin to Roscrea would shortly increase from 15 to 23, he said.
The former chief executive of the authority, Niall Crowley, who resigned because of the extent of the cuts, said he was “most disappointed” by the Minister’s response.
“It condemns the Equality Authority to ongoing non-viability,” he said.
“It is extraordinary that the Minister uses the new strategic plan of the Equality Authority as an excuse for the non-implementation of what was understood as agreed with the Green Party, given that the resources available to the Equality Authority are simply not sufficient to implement the strategic plan.”