Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
1383. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of a national strategy on volunteering; when he will publish the strategy; when he plans to appoint the expert group to assist in the development of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19760/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes unit provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €3.5 million is being provided in 2019 under this programme to support 21 Volunteer Centres, eight Volunteering Information Services and a number of volunteer-supporting organisations, such as Volunteer Ireland.
My Department is currently collating information received from a call for input (CFI) exercise that was designed as a first step towards developing a draft national volunteering strategy. Among the topics under consideration in this context is the issue of volunteering support infrastructure and how best this can be structured to support volunteering.
The suggestion of forming a National Advisory Group to assist the development of this volunteering strategy was very broadly endorsed in the responses to the CFI. I am currently considering the composition of this group, and will shortly issue invitations to the various stakeholders to participate in it.
It is anticipated that the draft strategy will be completed later this year, following which there will be a further opportunity for the public to input on the matter before the strategy is presented to Government for approval.
