Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
376. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a new national volunteering strategy is currently being formulated as a departmental policy document; if such a policy document being prepared will seek input from the community and voluntary sector through a public consultation mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44761/13]
View answerDuring 2013, the Department commenced a review of its current policy to support volunteer centres with a view to development of a Departmental policy on volunteering. The aim is to have a consistent and sustainable nationwide approach to supporting and promoting volunteering. As part of the process, my Department engaged Volunteering Ireland, the national volunteer development agency, to produce a status report on volunteer centres and volunteering in Ireland, which my Department received in June 2013. My Department also conducted an extensive series of meetings with the main stakeholders, Volunteering Ireland, volunteer centre boards, managers and staff between June and September. Following on from this engagement with the sector, the intention is to produce a draft policy for consultation by year end.
