Vol. 410 No. 7
81 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress which has been made in regard to drawing up the Charter for Voluntary Social Services which was promised in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress; the organisations he intends to consult with in regard to the Charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In keeping with the commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress my Department are preparing a White Paper on the role of voluntary organisations in the social services area. This will involve drawing up a charter for voluntary social services which will set out a clear framework for partnership between the State and voluntary activity.
The White Paper will address such issues as the nature and the extent of voluntary social services activity; the supports currently provided by the State sector; the current relationships between the statutory and voluntary sectors and how the State can encourage and support voluntary activity in the social services area.
Preliminary work associated with the preparation of the White Paper has now been completed. This involved documenting the nature of voluntary activity in Ireland and the supports currently provided by the State sector. My Department have also had initial consultations with many of the key voluntary organisations in the social services area, other Government Departments and with relevant State-sponsored bodies including the Combat Poverty Agency and the National Social Services Board. In addition, discussions have also taken place between my Department and relevant statutory and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain.
An advertisement was placed in the national press on 19 May 1991, and in newsletters with a circulation to voluntary groups, inviting interested organisations and individuals to contact my Department. This will be followed by a brief questionnaire to respondents which will enable my Department compile a comprehensive profile of interested organisations working in the social services area to identify the issues which voluntary groups would wish to see addressed in the White Paper.
At the same time a number of groups, representing a cross-section of the main types of voluntary organisations in the social services area, have been approached seeking their views on the issues to be addressed in the charter.
