Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018
552. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided for volunteer information services operating throughout the country that have been assisted by various partnership companies by way of funding in the past and in addition to the funding that is already provided for the volunteer centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17504/18]
View answerMy Department's Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes provide a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €3.5m is being provided in 2018 under this programme to support 21 Volunteer Centres, 8 Volunteer Information Services and a number of volunteer-supporting organisations, such as Volunteer Ireland.
Volunteer Information Services provide a valuable service in the promotion of volunteering in areas not covered by a Volunteer Centre. They act as a catalyst to encourage volunteering and also act as a conduit to match suitable volunteers with host organisations. While the aims of Volunteer Information Services are the same as Volunteer Centres, differences exist between the two. These differences include the fact that Volunteer Information Services are hosted by other organisations (like Local Development Companies) and do not operate on a full time basis.
Volunteer Centres, on the other hand, maintain their own premises, are responsible for their overheads, engage a minimum of at least two full time employees, facilitate a drop in service for potential volunteers and carry out a host of functions associated with volunteering, for example, training courses, seminars and coordinating volunteers at events.
No additional funding is available for Volunteer Information Services in 2018. However, my Department has commenced discussions with Volunteer Ireland and the Volunteer Information Services to explore the possibility of upgrading these Volunteer Information Services to Volunteer Centres on a phased basis.
