Funding cuts hit Scouting Ireland expansion

Three years of sustained cuts in government funding have hampered Scouting Ireland’s ability to expand into new communities.

That was the warning from its chief executive John Lawlor, who told its annual national conference in Sligo at the weekend that its funding from the State has fallen 27% since 2011.

“These cuts are hitting us at a time when scouting has never been more popular. We saw a 4% growth in numbers last year. We have scope to expand but we are being hampered because of these cuts. It is limiting our ability to get into new communities.”