Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. First, this is National Volunteering Week and I was in Galway this morning to launch a report from the National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, and Volunteer Ireland on rural volunteering, its impact and the positivity of rural volunteering in the sector. I agree that times have changed compared to the easiness at one time of volunteering not just with regard to the requirements of this Department, but also with regard to Garda vetting, Tusla and the responsibilities involved if one is looking after or training young people. That is right and proper. Times have changed and that is in place.

Last week, I launched a report of the consultative panel on governance of charitable organisations. It is worth reading. In response to Deputy Ó Cuív, it is a question for the committee as to whether it should examine this area, but that report is worthwhile in terms of the recommendations. The panel certainly agreed with the need for proportionality. I do not have the figures with me but I believe 85% of charities do not have employees and a very small number, 5%, have more than 200 employees. Clearly, proportionality and not treating everybody the same are hugely important. That is why the consultative panel recommended not going the route of a very onerous burden in respect of governance but looked at a code and simpler rules for smaller charities. It would be worth looking at that report launched last week.

Volunteering is hugely important for urban and rural communities. The Deputy is correct that we do not wish to frighten anybody away or discourage people. The Department has funded Volunteer Ireland in terms of volunteer centres, volunteer information centres and to provide training and guidance to organisations and trustees about their responsibilities and to help them along with what is required. We have funded volunteer organisations in that respect. Volunteer Ireland is proposing the development of a national vision and action plan for volunteering in Ireland and, as part of that, a monitoring and evaluation plan setting out clear baselines, targets and key performance indicators for the outcomes and actions being proposed.

We all very much respect and understand the importance of volunteering and want to keep it as simple as possible. However, we also acknowledge that there has been a reduction in the general public's trust in charities because of what happened in a small number of them.