Mr. John Cotterell:

Deputy Nash asked about the Knockbridge community audit. This project emerged from a presentation I made to the local council. I sat down with a local councillor, Declan Breathnach, to identify the skills possessed by the people who were willing to help their communities. This included people with public relations and writing skills. We sent 700 questionnaires to the houses in the local parish to ascertain residents' skills. Rather than ask respondents to make a commitment to volunteering we sought information on what areas might interest them. What emerged from the survey was a befriending service for older people which we have developed into a mass texting service linked to the I-Vol system. We can now let people know what is happening so that they can volunteer if they wish. It is a question of giving people more choice to volunteer in a way and a time that suits them.

Louth Volunteer Centre is housed in a property owned by Louth County Council at a reduced rent. We recently provided 60 volunteers for the local Irish maritime festival, which was run by the council. There is a win-win in these relationships.

In regard to the unemployed, perhaps the committee could help us to reduce the aforementioned barriers. I understand the Department of Social Protection and the Intreo offices do not recognise volunteering as one of their key objectives when they are trying to place or progress people who are unemployed. They focus on training and employment but volunteering should also be considered given the skills that can be developed. Even at the most basic level, someone who lacks confidence to commit to employment or training can use volunteering as a stepping stone to employment. We ask that volunteering be recognised in the Department's objectives. We could also go to jobs clubs to make our presentations because, as has been pointed out, not enough people know about Volunteer Ireland and volunteer centres. Unfortunately, because we are trying to manage and help the people who register we do not have the funding or the time to promote and advertise our centres. That is a key constraint.