Bernard Allen
Question:30 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the steps, if any, that have been taken to date by his Department to mark the year of the family.
Written Answers. - The Year of the Family.
The Government fully recognise the strong tradition of support and respect for the family in Ireland and the importance of the family in our national life. Accordingly, it decided earlier this year that the steering committee representing voluntary family organisations, which was established in 1992 to undertake preparations for the international year of the family, should retain its existing status of representing the non-governmental sector and should receive a grant-in-aid to assist them in their preparations for the year.
This approach is very much in line with that recommended by the United Nations itself which strongly encouraged the active participation of non-governmental organisations in celebrating the year and indicated that their efforts should be supported at State level by way of financial and technical assistance.
An allocation of £400,000 was made to the steering committee on 14 February last when I officially launched the international year in Ireland. That grant-in-aid has enabled the steering committee to set up its own office and secretariat and also to financially assist family organisations who are organising events to celebrate the year. To date, the steering committee have organised a number of events and others are planned for the remainder of the year. It is also in the process of deciding on grants to some 800 organisations who have applied for funding for their special activities to mark the year of the family.
In addition to its commitment to the work of the steering committee, the Government also established an interdepartmental committee to prepare its own programme for the year. That committee, which is under the aegis of my Department and represents the relevant Government Departments dealing with the family, has met on a number of occasions. It works closely with the steering committee in relation to overall co-ordination of events to mark the year. It is also in the process of drawing up proposals to promote the year and a calendar of events will be available shortly.
As far as my own Department is concerned, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction in Ireland of children's allowance, now called child benefit. To celebrate that event and as a contribution to the international year of the family, my Department is hosting a conference next September which will address a number of themes relating to child and family income support both in Ireland and other countries. We are also promoting through a special grant of £250,000 and through our community development and voluntary grant schemes the development of locally based family resource centres.