Ms Frances Haworth:

Following on from the point about the generosity of Irish people, an international survey on charitable giving that is carried out regularly demonstrates, as the Deputy pointed out, that Irish people are among the most generous in the world in terms of personal giving, which is amazing. That has always been said about Irish people, and we certainly see it.

On the kind of work we do, as Ms Charlton said, the foundation is part of an international model. Community foundations were initially set up in the US and are designed by local people for local people. The idea is they are permanent foundations that connect donors who care with causes that matter. That was the spirit in which the Community Foundation for Ireland was set up 21 years ago. Since then, we have supported more than 5,000 organisations throughout Ireland. We have always had a focus on smaller community and voluntary groups across Ireland. Being able to do so, and to support communities to take control of their destiny and address their problems through collective action, is at the heart of the community foundation model.

As a national community foundation, we are able to support the non-profit sector and civil society to address more systemic, long-term issues that affect Irish society because our remit covers the entire country. We have always tried to invest our funds through a lens of equality and human rights in order to support disadvantaged groups. In respect of the Traveller community, for example, we have had substantial investment to support that community and the civil society organisations to address and elevate Traveller rights, services and activities throughout the country. That has been a key area of investment. We have a number of standing funds, such as a women's fund, an older persons' fund and an environment fund, that distribute grants annually in these key areas. In general, we focus on community groups and on long-term change.