Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 1

Written Answers. - Development of Voluntary Organisations.

Ivor Callely

Question:

15 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will give consideration to the appointment of coordinators to assist in the development of voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

16 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is expected that the promised White Paper and Charter for voluntary organisations will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.

The Government have approved the establishment of an interdepartmental Task Force to assist in the preparation of the White Paper and Charter on voluntary activity. This Task Force will report to the Government by the end of October 1992. It would be my intention to submit a draft White Paper to the Government by the end of this year.

The Government have also approved a package of measures to facilitate consultation with and involvement of the voluntary sector in the process of preparing the White Paper and Charter. These measures include the setting up of an expert group which will be made up of people with a wide exprience of voluntary activity and a detailed working knowledge of the issues facing the voluntary sector. Opportunities will also be provided for voluntary groups to make their views known directly to the Task Force.

The White Paper will look at issues in relation to how State support for the voluntary sector might be better co-ordinated. A possible way to achieve this would be through the establishment of a central unit which would provide a service of information on the range of voluntary and community work taking place and the range of supports available to those involved in this work from the State, EC and other sources. Such a unit could be a focal point for both the voluntary and statutory agencies, not only for information purposes, but for the implementation of practical ways in which to co-ordinate and improve the services being provided by both sectors in the area of voluntary and community activity.

I might also mention that the funding of Community Development projects in selected areas by my Department has led to the appointment of full-time community development workers in those areas and the setting up of locally based resource centres which act as a focal point for community development. These centres facilitate the networking of voluntary community groups active in the area. At present there are twenty one projects in the programme. The budget for 1992 is £1.25 million, which will allow for expansion of the programme later this year.

As part of the process of facilitating the development of voluntary organisations, I am making a special grant this year of £20,000 to Barnardos for the provision of a centralised administrative service for a number of small voluntary organisations. Arrangements are being made at present to get this service up and running. I will be interested in the outcome of ths pilot project which may provide a model for future developments.