Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Inclusion.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

123 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the structures which have been created to allow the community and voluntary sector to be included in the reports of Government policy on social inclusion. [24160/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

Responsibility for Government policy on social inclusion lies primarily with my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. However, there are a number of ways in which the community and voluntary sector is facilitated by my Department to feed into Government policy on social inclusion.

In furtherance of the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector, my Department co-chairs the implementation and advisory group which was established to oversee the implementation of the White Paper's recom mendations as part of the Government's long-term strategy to develop and support the community and voluntary sector. In this regard, I announced in September last the successful applicants on two major White Paper funding initiatives – the scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies in the community and voluntary sector and the scheme for training and supports in the community and voluntary sector. Together these schemes will direct €7.4 million in funding to support 58 organisations in the community and voluntary sector over the coming three years. These arrangements and funding constitute significant mechanisms to assist the sector to contribute to policy on social inclusion.

In addition, the voluntary and community sector have opportunities to express their views both formally and informally through their ongoing contacts with my Department. Given the scale of input by my Department to various Government fora on social inclusion – for example, I am a member of, and report to, the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion – there is also regular communication between my Department and the national office of social inclusion. My Department is also involved in a variety of fora, such as the national anti-poverty strategy, which have an important input into social policy. In accordance with established practice, my Department is also asked to comment on matters for Cabinet decision, including those matters relating to social inclusion. The sector can avail of significant opportunity through the Department to contribute to social inclusion policy.