Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
776. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is an education and or advice scheme that focuses on good corporate governance that volunteer organisations can avail of. [16562/24]
View answerI am immensely proud that my Department leads on supporting volunteering and implementing the National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025. The Strategy was approved by Government and launched in December 2020. It is a whole of government framework to support the voluntary sector. Its purpose is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution volunteers make to Irish society.
The Strategy comprises a suite of policy and strategic initiatives led by the Department of Rural and Community Development to support volunteers, their representative groups and a range of not-for-profit organisations in community development, local development, social enterprise, and community and voluntary sectors. There are five strategic objectives set out in the Strategy, with 56 associated actions.
My Department provides funding to Boardmatch to implement action 52 of the National Volunteering Strategy, which is to provide training on good governance to volunteer board members, as well as a matching service to recruit new board members. Boardmatch provides a range of fully accredited governance training courses, which are open to voluntary organisations and new and existing volunteer Board members and Trustees, so that people being appointed to Boards are better trained and have the knowledge and skills to comply with their statutory obligations whilst leading not-for-profit organisations in developing and delivering their strategic plans. Training provided by Boardmatch includes CEO and Chair training, Financial Governance, Trustee Training, Cyber Risk Management, Board Culture, and Governance Refresher courses.
My Department also funds a number of other organisations involved in providing training and other supports to volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. In this regard, for example, funding is provided to Carmichael each year to support their Good Governance Awards. This is a national initiative led by Carmichael that promotes, recognises and encourages adherence to good governance practice by non-profit organisations in Ireland. Funding is also provided to Volunteer Ireland to provide a wide range of training courses on relevant areas to volunteers, Volunteer Centres and volunteer-involving organisations nationwide.
