Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 52 together.

The primary role of my Department in regard to the community and voluntary sector is to encourage and facilitate communities, with a special focus on areas of disadvantage, to pursue social and economic progress. This policy is underpinned by the Towards 2016 partnership agreement, which recognises the valuable role of the sector. To this end, my Department supports a range of initiatives that supports the work of the sector.

In particular, I draw the Deputy's attention to a number of schemes that provide such supports directly. Under the scheme for national organisations within the community and voluntary sector, core funding of €5 million was allocated to 64 organisations in 2010. My Department has completed a review of the operation and scope of this scheme and I will consider various options regarding its future in the coming weeks. Funding of €878,000 is also being provided in 2010 to support the sector in its work under social partnership.

Encouraging volunteering and supporting active citizenship is also a key part of the work of my Department in this context. To this end, my Department provides annual funding of €3.4 million to support the work of 22 volunteer centres operating at county level, as well other volunteering projects. Core funding is also provided to Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteering Ireland, both of which promote volunteering nationally. The role of the sector is also widely acknowledged in other areas in my Department, for example, in the ongoing implementation of the national drugs strategy and in the context of my Department's new local and community development programme, which aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. Overall funding of €67.5 million was allocated to this new programme for 2010.

In general terms, combating poverty and building an inclusive society remain key priorities for the Government. The national action plan for social inclusion, NAPinclusion, and the social inclusion commitments in the national development plan were drawn up in consultation with the social partners, and after a wide-ranging consultation process with other stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector. Within this framework, the community and voluntary sector has key role in helping to build sustainable and vibrant communities in which families can thrive.

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