Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department provides a cohesive framework of supports for the community and voluntary sector.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In 2017, €3.5 million was provided under this programme to support volunteer centres in 21 areas nationwide, volunteer information services in areas not served by volunteer centres and a number of national organisations such as volunteer Ireland.

This funding represented an increase of €0.3 million over the 2016 provision and this increased level of funding has been maintained this year. The funding of all these organisations is designed to strengthen and foster volunteerism in Ireland, building a support structure for volunteering locally from the bottom up.

This year, some €100,000 is being made available in respect of the eight volunteer information services. I am generally supportive of proposals to upgrade volunteer information services to volunteer centres, however any proposals in this regard must be considered in the context of the funding available to my Department.

A submission on this matter from the national network of volunteering services has recently been received and a meeting between my officials and representatives from this network to discuss these proposals will be held shortly.

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