Written Answers. - Community Trust.
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:
542
Ms O'Sullivan
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the plans, if any, he has to engage, on a partnership basis, with voluntary organisations, either individually or collectively through their umbrella organisations, in the planning for the scope of and the operation and management of the proposed community trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21244/98]
The imminent establishment of the Foundation for Investing in Communities arises from the provision of £750,000 in the 1998 budget for the creation of a community trust — an organisation which would support and fund voluntary and community activity, additional to that already supported by the State.
This joint venture between employers and the State has as its objective the provision of a new funding and support source for voluntary and community activity in Ireland and underlines Government and business commitment to a process of social inclusion in disadvantaged areas.
The new body will concentrate initially on the following areas of activity: the continued development of local enterprise networks, as funded and supported currently through The Enterprise Trust, which will form part of the new foundation; support for voluntary and community based projects on the basis of additionality rather than duplication of existing funded activities; and seeking new ways of addressing the needs of disadvantaged children, including supporting research into the root causes of disadvantage among children, and distributing funds to voluntary and community organisations involved in the welfare of children on the basis of additionality rather than duplication.
Following the deliberations of an interdepartmental working group, a steering committee was established with the aim of setting up a new body along these lines. The task of the steering committee was,inter alia, to look at ways of optimising the development of and benefits from the concept of voluntary participation; to put in train the setting up of a community trust-foundation this year, either as a company or charity, using funds available from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and The Enterprise Trust; to consider the make-up of a board of directors and supporting organisational structures for the Trust-Foundation, based on the following principles: that the board should not be seen as “representational” in nature; an independent voluntary entity, setting policy and implementing strategies and should be clearly perceived as such; be supported in its work by advisory committees made up of relevant expertise, if that is considered appropriate; and of a size to allow for efficient working and be seen to reflect a model which is flexible, non-bureaucratic, innovative, and, most importantly, reflecting the energy and enthusiasm which is the hallmark of volunteering.
The take of the steering committee also included keeping in touch with and developing co-operation with relevant initiatives in Northern Ireland; and considering a suitable name for the trust foundation.
The steering committee's membership is as follows: Chair: Mr. John Hynes (An Post), Ms Deirdre Carroll (Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs), Ms Anna Lee (Combat Poverty Agency), Dr. T. Mitchell (Provost, Trinity College), Mr. Jim McCaffrey (Department of Finance), Mr. Tony Hynes (MD, Green Isle Food Group Limited), Mr. Steve Costello (MD, Marks and Spencer (Ireland) Limited, and Mr. Philip Mullally (The Enterprise Trust).
The steering committee is currently completing its consideration of the above issues, and arrangements are being made to form a legal entity.
I recognise that consultation and engagement with the voluntary sector is crucial for the success of this initiative and the establishment of advisory committees, as outlined above, will assist in harnessing the expertise that this sector has to offer. I understand that arrangements are in hand for the steering committee to meet representatives of the sector.
