Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Jan 1991

Vol. 404 No. 5

Written Answers. - Fight Against Poverty Conference.

Patrick McCartan

Question:

19 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline, in respect of the recent conference held in Galway on the role of non-governmental organisations in the fight against poverty which was hosted by him and the EC, the total cost to the Exchequer of the conference including the cost of labour time of departmental staff organising and attending the event; the main finding of the conference; if he is planning any policy initiatives as a result of the conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

In June 1990, I hosted a major conference in conjunction with the European Commission on the role of voluntary organisations in the delivery of social services and in tackling poverty and disadvantage. The conference was attended by some 150 representatives of voluntary and statutory organisations from the various member states as well as representatives of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and several organisations representing voluntary and state agencies.

In the context of the conference, I announced plans to draw up a charter for voluntary social service activity in Ireland. This charter will set out a clear framework for partnership between Government and voluntary organisations and identify how, in future, the State can encourage voluntary activity and foster and support voluntary organisations in the social services area.

The question of developing a framework for partnership between the State and voluntary activity has now been progressed in the context of theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress. The programme contains a Government commitment to prepare a White Paper outlining their proposals in this area. Closer links will also be developed by my Department with voluntary organisations providing services of advice and assistance to social welfare recipients.

Issues discussed at the June conference included: the conditions needed for successful partnership between the voluntary non-governmental organisations and the public sector; how voluntary organisations can best encourage self-help, participation and the personal development of their clients; how voluntary organisations can contribute most effectively to the formulation of policy at local, national and European Community level and how the public sector including the European Community can most effectively support and foster voluntary activity.

The conference was regarded by participants as highly successful and a valuable exchange of contacts and information. It was seen as the important start of an on-going process of exchange on these issues between EC countries and the Commission.

The proceedings of the conference will be published and widely disseminated in coming months.

The overall cost to the Exchequer, excluding salary costs of departmental officials which it is not possible to quantify, was in the region of £140,000.