Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Of course the Deputy is right. It is not just about euro or dollars. The Deputy mentioned education. The greatest progress in the millennium goals has been in the area of education. However, it was not achieved by transplanting teachers from Ireland to developing countries but by building up their inherent education systems and providing training colleges and trainers of teachers as well as the schools themselves.

I do not think a new statutory body is the way to go. We have a structured way, through funding of NGOs, where people are invited to come in and use their skills. We are also funding specialist placement organisations, such as Voluntary Service Overseas, Suas, SERVE and the United Nations Volunteers organisation. These provide opportunities for people with skills to contribute in the way the Deputy is proposing. I welcome the fact that he is thinking outside the box in encouraging as many people as possible to volunteer but I do not think legislation is the way to go.

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