My Department's community and voluntary supports and programmes unit provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €3.5 million is being provided in 2019 under this programme to support 21 volunteer centres, eight volunteering information services and a number of volunteer-supporting organisations such as Volunteer Ireland.
My Department is currently collating information received following a recent Call for Input exercise that was designed as a first step towards developing a draft national volunteering strategy. The submission referred to in the question has been logged and will be considered by my Department alongside other submissions received. I would like to express my appreciation to all who took the time to respond to this exercise.
These submissions will inform a draft strategy on volunteering. It is anticipated that the draft strategy will be completed later this year, following which there will be a further opportunity for the public to input on the matter before the strategy is presented to Government for approval.