Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2024
327. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are plans to expedite the multi-annual funding proposals for the charity sector as outlined in her Department’s five-year strategy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38258/24]
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 (CSG) on Local and Community Development.
This Strategy 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.
While my Department provides funding to some community and voluntary organisations, it is not the primary funder for many of those organisations. Furthermore, my Department does not have a direct mandate to set the terms of the funding arrangements put in place for what is a wide array of diverse programmes and schemes, most of which are managed and funded from other Government Departments.
However, my Department has taken steps in relation to our own programmes. For example, five-year multi-annual funding contracts have issued to 420 organisations funded under the Community Services Programme. A further example is the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the Community and Voluntary sector. Funding totalling €21m is currently provided on a multi-annual basis to 82 organisations under this scheme.
In line with a commitment in the strategy, my department is currently mapping the commissioning of social and community services by public sector bodies. This is included in the 2024 CSG Workplan of priority actions. This mapping exercise will capture some information on the duration of grant agreements currently being issued to community and voluntary organisations which should assist the policy-making process in relation to this issue.
