Voluntary Sector Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Ceisteanna (558, 561)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

558. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the staffing issue at his Department which is delaying funding to volunteer centres, including salaries; and if the separate issue of the loss of a funding stream due to the restructuring of the local development structures has been addressed so that volunteer centres can proceed with plans for this year and the important work that the centres do across the country. [3883/15]

Derek Nolan

Ceist:

561. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to inform Volunteer Ireland and volunteer centres across the country regarding their funding for 2015; the reason there has been a delay to date; if he will organise the relevant budgetary allocations as soon as possible so that staff will be paid and services will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3929/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 561 together.

The Government continues to advance a range of measures that support volunteering and active citizenship. My Department funds a network of 21 volunteer centres. It also provides funding to Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency. The focus of Volunteer Ireland is to create an enabling environment for volunteering, to develop an ethos of volunteerism across all sectors of society and to be an independent and legitimate voice for volunteering.

The volunteer centres act as 'brokers' between potential volunteers and organisations seeking volunteers. They also work with organisations to develop their volunteer management capacity and facilitate Garda vetting for smaller organisations.

My Department has recently provided funding to each Volunteer Centre and will be in contact shortly with each of the organisations regarding further funding for 2015.