Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
74. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the initiatives to be put in place to support the community and voluntary sector in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1739/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department supports a range of initiatives in the community and voluntary sector and has lead responsibility for developing the relationship between the State and the community and voluntary sector. The Scheme to Support National Organisations which has been in place since 2008 is a key element in the State's support for the role of the sector in developing a strong and vibrant civil society. The scheme’s objective is to provide multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations, focussed on organisations supporting disadvantage. Under a three-year funding programme which commenced in 2016, my Department will allocate €5.921m to the SSNO in 2018.
My Department also supports volunteer centres and volunteer information services nationwide, as well as a number of national organisations such as Volunteer Ireland and Young Social Innovators. The funding of these organisations is designed to strengthen and foster volunteerism in Ireland, building a support structure for volunteering locally from the bottom up. This is key to the Department’s citizen engagement objectives and supports the spirit of participation in communities. A total of €3.5m was allocated to these organisations in 2017 and a similar amount will be available in 2018.
Furthermore, my Department supports Public Participation Networks (PPN) which have now been established in each local authority area. PPNs aim to enable the public to take an active formal role in relevant policy making and oversight committees of the local authority. Since 2015, funding of up to €50,000 has been provided by my Department to each PPN, with supplementary funding being provided by local authorities. Similar funding arrangements will continue in 2018 to support PPNs in terms of their continued operation and development.
My Department also provides funding to members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar to allow for input into the policy making process within the community and voluntary sector. This year my Department will allocate €0.565m to the Pillar.
Finally the Deputy will be aware that I launched a revised Seniors Alert Scheme last October. The objective of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as a result of the revised scheme and a widespread publicity campaign, there has been a significant uptake by the targeted group. My Department will allocate €2.3m to the scheme in 2018.
