Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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97. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop a national volunteer strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23580/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government continues to advance a range of measures that support volunteering and active citizenship. My Department funds a network of twenty one 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 is currently undertaking a review of the existing policy on volunteer centres. Following this review, work will begin on drafting a new Departmental policy with a view to developing a consistent and sustainable nationwide approach to supporting and promoting volunteering.