Vol. 572 No. 6
152 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date on the implementation of the recommendation 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24074/03]
The White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector states the Government's long-term strategy to develop and support the community and voluntary sector. It sets out the rationale for developing the relationship between the State and this sector and the principles which should underpin this relationship.
In September I announced the successful applicants for two major White Paper funding initiatives: the funding scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies in the community and voluntary sector, and the funding scheme for training and supports in the community and voluntary sector. Together these schemes will direct some €7.4 million in funding to 58 organisations in the community and voluntary sector over the coming three years. Substantive matters considered to date by the implementation and advisory group, which was established to oversee the implementation of the White Paper's recommendations, include the multiplicity of funding sources through which the community and voluntary sector must operate; the designation of voluntary activity units in relevant Departments; accreditation of training in the community and voluntary sector; support for volunteering; the establishment of best practice standards in both the community and voluntary sector and the statutory sector; and the introduction of a more modern legal framework for the charities sector.
