Introduction

Threats to society and to the community sector

Despite narratives of turnaround and recovery, these remain times of crisis in Ireland. The threats are multiple. Levels of deprivation and poverty continue to be higher than European averages (Eurostat, 2014). Private debt and mortgage defaults have not been adequately addressed and homelessness has reached crisis proportions (Peter McVerry Trust, 2016). Growing inequality is the norm. Diminished public services cause hardship and disadvantage. Precarious work results in low pay and is no safeguard against poverty.

The community sector involves groups organised around a particular geographical area or around shared identity or interests, engaged in diverse activities, and operating independently, on a not-for-profit basis and with a public good aim. Those involved in the sector and committed to its potential are challenged to address the question of how the community sector should be responding to this continuing crisis. This, however, is also a period of crisis for the community sector itself. A further question must be addressed as to what the community sector should be doing to respond to its own crisis.

The withdrawal of funding is central to the crisis faced by the community sector. However, threats of co-option by the state, of dissent precluded by the state, and of loss of direction and role by the community sector are also at issue. The first instinct in a crisis is to survive. All energies get redirected to the task of survival. People and organisations turn in on themselves, go back to what they know best, and try to hang on until the crisis has passed. This crowds out imagination, analysis and innovation.

This situation is not unique to Ireland – see Chapter Four and, for example, NCIA (2015) and Kenny et al (2015) for UK and international comparisons. It is useful to share emerging analysis and experience across jurisdictions to enable learning and new insights.