Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
88. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to deal with the retention of staff in community development projects in view of the fact that large numbers of staff are leaving to take up employment in statutory organisations; if there is a plan to introduce pay parity to encourage more people to join the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41242/23]
View answerThe Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published in 2019. This is a whole of government strategy led by my Department, which is implemented collaboratively with the sector through the Cross Sector Group on Local and Community Development.
This Strategy plays an important role in seeking to strengthen the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors generally. It reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector, whilst also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to ensure that available resources are focused on providing effective services.
The strategy includes a commitment to develop a sustainable funding model to support the community and voluntary sector. Specific actions included in this strategy are the promotion of multi-annual funding approaches by Government departments and Agencies, appropriate cost recovery models to cover the costs of compliance, support for autonomous community and local development organisations and sustainable funding models to support community and social enterprises.
My Department is aware of the challenges facing organisations in the Local and Community Development sectors around the recruitment and retention of staff. Community and voluntary organisations are funded by a wide range of Government Departments and agencies through different funding schemes and programmes.
While my Department provides funding to some community and voluntary organisations, there is no national pay agreement for the Community and Voluntary sector as a whole. The Department of Rural and Community Development does not have a mandate to set pay rates for what is a wide array of diverse and independent organisations, most of which get funding directly from other government Departments.
