Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Voluntary and Community Organisations.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

1398 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in line with the Government White Paper, Supporting Voluntary Activity, he has appointed a voluntary activity unit responsible for his Department's co-operation with voluntary and community organisations; if so, the unit's personnel, activities and work to date; if not, the reason therefor; and the personnel in his Department responsible for co-operation with voluntary and community organisations. [16729/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has a broad remit of responsibilities and that consequently there are a wide variety of community-voluntary groups which interact with, and obtain the support of, my Department in areas such as equality, women's issues, traveller issues, prisoners issues, childcare, disability, crime prevention, violence against women etc. Given the complexities of the issues involved and the number of divisions of my Department which would be involved, it would be quite difficult to implement the recommendation of the White Paper which proposed the establishment of voluntary activity units and at this point in time I have no plans to establish such a unit.

Question No. 1399 answered with Question No. 1386.