asked the Minister for Social Welfare the measures which have been taken to implement the promise contained in The Programme for National Recovery to ensure closer liaison with voluntary organisations in the preparation and implementation of policies in the social welfare area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Programme for National Recovery.
12.
It has always been my policy, in the context of developments in the social welfare services, to seek the advice and assistance of voluntary organisations operating in this area. This co-operation will be continued and developed in the future in line with the commitment contained in the Programme for National Recovery.
Prior to this year's budget I engaged in a series of meetings with voluntary organisations to discuss their views on social welfare policy and these views were taken into account in the formulation of my proposals in the context of the budget discussions. I will be having further discussions with such organisations on a regular basis in the future.
I am particularly interested in the role which voluntary organisations can play in providing opportunities for unemployed people to become actively involved in their work. I have had discussions recently with representatives of voluntary organisations in relation to the use which could be made of the part-time job incentive scheme and the voluntary work scheme in this regard and I am considering what further might be done to encourage this process.
My Department also has a considerable amount of contact on an ongoing basis with voluntary organisations in the context of the scheme of grants for voluntary organisations in the social services area. The Deputy will be aware in this connection that a special grant of £100,000 was recently made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for a major programme of personal development and home management courses throughout the country. This arose from discussions I had with the society prior to the budget. It will enable them to provide courses for over 5,000 families.
I can assure the Deputy that I fully recognise the major contribution which voluntary organisations make in the social welfare area.
The Minister's reply was to the effect that there has always been co-operation in the voluntary organisations, that the Department have always sought the advice of voluntary organisations. I take it from that that no measures have been taken to ensure closer liaison with voluntary organisations in the preparation and implementation of policies in the social welfare area. That has been set down precisely in those terms in the Programme for National Recovery signed by the famous social partners last autumn. The Minister has not indicated that he has taken that very seriously. Does the Minister intend to have regular close liaison with the voluntary organisations who I am sure have a very close knowledge of the difficulties and problems in the social welfare area? This is in the actual preparation and implementation of social welfare policies.
In relation to the first part of the Deputy's statement, I said it has always been my policy to be involved. I went on to say that I have had meetings with the bodies recently, in line with the Programme for National Recovery, and I will continue to have such meetings and discussions. In fact, I regard the voluntary organisations as having a major integral part to play in the operation of the system. That would be my own commitment in any event, irrespective of what is contained in the Programme for National Recovery. We are working very closely with the voluntary bodies and will continue to do so. We have had a number of meetings with individual representatives of voluntary bodies in that regard and particularly in regard to two schemes which we want to develop.
Before any new policy or any new procedure for implementation of policies, is introduced, I would like an assurance from the Minister that he would have liaison with the particular voluntary organisations which might be involved before such would be implemented?
As the Deputy will be aware, matters of policy are ultimately matters for the Government; but he can be assured that I will be having continuing discussions with the voluntary organisations and will be taking their views into consideration.
The time has now come to deal with questions nominated for priority.