Vol. 426 No. 1
10 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will report on the progress made in the preparation of the charter on voluntary social services; and when the promised White Paper outlining the Government's proposals in this area will be published.
The development of a White Paper and charter on voluntary activity will be one of the most important developments in relation to the voluntary sector in this country for many years. It will set out a framework for partnerships between the State and voluntary bodies and develop a cohesive strategy for supporting voluntary activity. It is essential in this context that both the statutory and voluntary sectors have adequate opportunity to fully consider all the issues involved and the implications for them of any proposals which may be made.
An interdepartmental task force has been set up under the chairmanship of my Department to assist in the preparation of the White Paper and charter. The task force includes Government Departments with major involvement with voluntary organisations. The views of health boards, local authorities and other State agencies are being taken on board in the context of the work of the task force.
An expert group drawn from the voluntary sector to mediate the views and concerns of that sector and to act as a resource to the task force has also been established. The membership of the expert group has been drawn from people with wide knowledge of voluntary activity and with a detailed knowledge of the issues facing the voluntary sector.
Much of the preliminary work necessary for the preparation of a White Paper and charter has been completed within my Department. The task force, with the assistance of the expert group, will shortly put together detailed proposals for the content of the charter for voluntary activity. It is intended that the task force will report to Government by the end of June 1993.
That reply is very long on aspiration. The question relates to funding and I would like to know if the task has put any intellectual energy into distributing funding. For example, has the task force any intention of supporting the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed? Many voluntary agencies take up the slack for the Department of Social Welfare who should be doing the work. This is at the coalface of welfare rights. In 1992 the Department of Social Welfare made funding available for a welfare resource officer with the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed. Does the Minister intend to renew his commitment in this regard? Many of these organisations spend most of their time and intellectual energy fundraising.
The question is overlong, especially having regard to the time limit on priority questions.
Does the Minister intend to renew his commitment and support to the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed?
The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed know I have given them support and commitment over a number of years and they can rest assured that I will recognise their needs in this regard. Recently they took part in the pre-budget forum. Social welfare officers are very much involved at the coalface throughout the country. One step that has been taken recently is the appointment of information officers in most of the main social welfare centres to ensure that there is a communications link for people who are dependent on social welfare. The purpose of the charter is much more far-reaching. It will deal with the relationship between voluntary bodies and the State, semi-State and local authority sectors and the basis to be adopted for the future working relationship, including the framework for financing. The matter of current financing is a different question.
Question No. 11 is in the name of Deputy Proinsias De Rossa.
May I ask one further supplementary, please?
A brief question.
In relation to the Structural Funds, may I ask the Minister if voluntary agencies will have direct access to Structural Funds?
That is a separate question, and it would not relate directly to the Department of Social Welfare. Most of the Structural Funds for social employment schemes, CDP schemes and other schemes come to the Department through the Department of Enterprise and Employment.
