Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I was disappointed because many of my questions are based on drugs and the reports from the committee are relevant. If the Government does not act on these reports one must wonder about the value of the committee.

I raised this matter with regard to volunteers on the basis of a committee report. All of the major groups including Alone, Aware, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Glencree, Feis Ceoil, Muintir na Tíre, the Irish Rugby Football Association, the Red Cross and GOAL stated they have major problems with recruiting volunteers. Despite this, the ERSI report states volunteer numbers are increasing.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul stated its volunteer numbers decreased from 24,000 to 8,000. Where are the volunteers mentioned in the ESRI report? Aware has stated that maintaining volunteer commitment was a major concern. Feis Ceoil sought volunteers with skills in specialist areas rather than being approached. However, it found it challenging to find young volunteers. Glencree reported problems of obtaining visas for volunteers. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland stated the number of volunteers in its organisation had decreased from 500 to 200.

According to the Oireachtas committee's report all of the numbers are falling. What is the difference between this and the ESRI report? People tell me it is hard to find volunteers and this is verified in the committee's report but not in the ESRI report.

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