Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 2

Written Answers. - Policy on Voluntary Sector.

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

45 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for his decision not to proceed with the publication of the proposed White Paper on the role of the voluntary and community sector and to proceed with a Green Paper instead. [18563/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The commitment to publish a White Paper was first given by the then Minister in 1990. Following a round of consultation with voluntary and community groups, an interdepartmental task force was set up to assist the Department of Social Welfare in drafting material for the White Paper on voluntary activity in 1992. The task force completed its work in July 1993. The work of drafting the actual text for a White Paper then commenced in the Department of Social Welfare and a draft had been prepared by December 1994.

The essential difficulty has been that much has been happening in the community and voluntary sector and related areas which would have an impact on any White Paper. These include the reform of the Department of Social Welfare's grant schemes for voluntary organisations, the establishment of the National Social and Economic Forum, implementation of the Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development and, perhaps most importantly of all, the national anti-poverty strategy. I might also mention in this context the Taoiseach's announcement of the establishment of a western development commission to promote coherent action for economic and social development by public bodies, social partners and community-based groups throughout the western region. The Deputy will also be aware of the interim report of the devolution commission, which makes proposals for the involvement of the voluntary community sector in local community structures at area level and, through the Local Urban and Rural Development Programme area partnerships, in local authority committees.

The national anti-poverty strategy (NAPS) is designed to fundamentally change the way in which Government tackles the issues of poverty and social exclusion and has involved a widespread consultation process with the voluntary sector. The strategy, after an essential lead in period of consultation, is at its most critical stages of policy development. Not taking the NAPS process into account in the White Paper would have meant that it would have been out of date even prior to its publication.

These developments made it necessary to take a look again at the wisdom of publishing a White Paper at this time. I came to the view that the best strategy to move forward the debate about the role of the voluntary community sector and its relation with the State is to publish a Green Paper. The Green Paper is intended to stimulate further debate and to facilitate further engagement between the statutory and voluntary sectors in relation to the issues involved. The debate to be facilitated by the Green Paper will help shape future Government policy in relation to the voluntary community sector. The Green Paper will cover issues such as suggested principles which should underpin the relationship between the State and the voluntary sector including the matter of representation in national policy making fora; suggestions regarding the method and source of funding for national representative structures for the voluntary sector; criteria to be attached to funding generally by statutory agencies; issues relating to charitable status and taxation issues; effective consultation mechanisms already in place both nationally and at EU level and the reason(s) for their effectiveness; and areas which could usefully be explored where models of statutory-voluntary sector co-operation should be actively encouraged.