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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 7

Written Answers. - White Paper on Voluntary Sector.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

32 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the discussions, if any, he has held relating to the proposed White Paper and charter on the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10283/96]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

104 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the task force on the preparation of the White Paper and charter for voluntary organisations was first due to report to Government; the progress, if any, made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10483/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 104 together.

An interdepartmental task force was set up to assist the Department of Social Welfare in drafting material for the White Paper on voluntary activity. The original intention was that the task force would report back by the end of October 1992. This deadline proved unrealistic, having regard to the work involved and the need for further consultations with the voluntary and community sector. The task force first met in June 1992 and completed its work in July 1993. The work of drafting the actual text for a White Paper then commenced in the Department of Social Welfare and a draft had been prepared by December 1994.
As indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 5 and 22 on 22 February 1996, the intention was to seek Government approval to have the White Paper published by the end of 1995. It was not possible to do so due to the introduction of a number of new policy initiatives which in themselves had the potential for a substantial impact on the relationship between the voluntary and community sectors and statutory agencies.
The essential difficulty has been that much has been happening in the community and voluntary sector and related areas which are likely to have an impact on the draft White Paper. These include the reform of the Department of Social Welfare's grant schemes for voluntary organisations, implementation of the programme for local urban and rural development and perhaps most importantly of all the National Anti-Poverty Strategy. I might also mention in this context the Taoiseach's recent announcement of the establishment of a Western Development Commission to promote coherent action for economic and social development by public bodies, social partners and community-based groups throughout the western region.
The National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) is designed to fundamentally change the way in which Government tackles the issues of poverty and social exclusion and has involved a widespread consultation process with the voluntary sector. The strategy, after an essential lead in period of consultation, is now entering its most critical stages of policy development. Not taking the NAPS process into account in the White Paper would have meant that it would have been out of date even prior to its publication.
These developments necessitated a detailed re-drafting of the text of the draft White Paper which is nearing completion. Both my officials and I have had numerous meetings regarding these issues both internally within the Department and also with the voluntary sector over the last year in relation to the forthcoming White Paper. I hope to be able to make an announcement in relation to the White Paper in the very near future.
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