Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The report of the task force on active citizenship, which was completed last year, provides research indicators on trends in volunteering over recent years. In comparing the 2002 and 2006 surveys carried out by the ESRI, the report notes that participation in volunteering among Irish people increased from 17% in 2002 to 23% in 2006. Active community involvement is also up from 22% to 29% in the same period. My Department supports a number of organisations that carry out ongoing research and analysis on the volunteer sector in Ireland, such as Volunteer Centres Ireland. Moreover, my Department provides a range of supports for volunteer organisations, including in the area of recruitment, training and core administration costs.

Support for volunteering has steadily increased since a number of measures, amounting to almost €2 million, were announced by my Department in March 2005. Following on from this package of measures, my Department has continued to fund a range of initiatives in this area, including providing financial support for the establishment of 16 volunteer centres throughout the country with further centres anticipated in the near future. In the Towards 2016 partnership agreement the Government underlined its commitment to further develop policy in support of volunteering, informed by the recommendations of the task force on active citizenship. The agreement also provided for increased funding of €5 million per annum to support volunteering and this Department is in consultation with a range of stakeholders to ensure the funding is channelled into best practice activities designed to further support volunteerism in Ireland.

Volunteer Centres Ireland, with the support of this Department, recently established a national database of statistics and opportunities relating to volunteering in Ireland. This initiative will assist in identifying trends and issues relating to volunteering retention and training needs. I am mindful of the need to periodically review and update the value of the volunteer sector within our communities, and officials in my Department are giving consideration to this matter.

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