Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister on this important debate on the community and voluntary sector. As we are aware the community and voluntary sector is the backbone of most of our community, and where would we be without it. I am sure it was music to the Minister's ears to hear the praise he got from Senator Ó Murchú when he said the Government is pressing all the right buttons. I could sit down and not say any more and just note it.

In Ireland we have a long history of volunteerism, much of which has gone unrecorded. The other phrase of meithil refers to the practice of neighbours coming together to face a common challenge, such as the harvest and, in doing so, achieve a common purpose. The creation of mutual bonds of kinship bind communities together and this process has carried on throughout generations. For mental health reasons and so on we save much by the community working together .

Historically volunteering has been an inherent part of the way in which communities in Ireland functioned and sustained themselves and, as such, did not garner much academic or policy attention until recent decades. While the history of volunteering might be lacking rigorous or indepth scholarly work, the area was given attention in the national committee on volunteering report in 2002. Different phases in the development of volunteerism in Ireland were noted in that report as drawing on the Christian concept of Caritas in medieval times and the strong tradition of Protestant philanthropy in the 18th century. I will speak a little more about philanthropy which the Minister mentioned in his statement. I welcome his proposals on the forum on philanthropy.

The report identifies the Gaelic revival in sport, culture and language as having very strong historical roots in voluntary work. It also mentions the health benefits that people derive from giving - it is not only in receiving that people benefit but people derive health benefits from giving.

Traditional definitions of volunteerism would suggest that volunteering is comprised of activities that are unpaid and entered into without compulsion. In Ireland, however, volunteering can include a notion of membership, for example, membership of organisations such as the GAA. The concept of member and volunteer can be one and one. The two greatest organisations, one of which was mentioned by Senator Ó Murchú, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the GAA are built on the selfless efforts of volunteers, both of which have economic benefits. The volunteers travel up and down the country with their clubs. The benefit to the community is in the doing and in the participation. It is important not to forget the many people who give of their time to the community through the Tidy Towns competition.

The nature of volunteering may have changed over the decades but the needs of the individual and community for self-expression will continue and it is one of the significant aspects of volunteering, as is participation in community. They play a valuable role in society. The voluntary sector involves an incredible diversity of activity ranging from the informal to the highly structured, from the small ad hoc group to the well-established larger organisations.

The Minister has mentioned the changes he will make in the community and voluntary sector. Those changes are welcome. While it would be inappropriate for Government to seek full involvement across the voluntary activity or to control it, it is clear that it can continue to provide an enabling framework for this activity.

The great strength of voluntary activities emerges organically from our local communities. The Minister mentioned the proposals made in October by the European Commission outlining frameworks for the delivery of EU funds post the 2013 period which places community-led local development at the centre of the future development of the European Union. This announcement is welcome. The new EAFRD regulation which forms part of the Common Agricultural Policy announced in Brussels last week also reinforces the centrality of community-led local development.

The commitment of the Government and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, to reducing duplication of services providing more efficient and effective local services and ensuring greater democratic accountability in decision making at local level, through the alignment of local government and local development sectors, is commendable. I note the Minister used the word "alignment" and not "amalgamation". There is much alignment and some amalgamation has to be done.

The reconstitution of the Department was a deliberate strategic decision to bring together the three key actors working in all our communities under one Department. Every year two thirds of Irish adults, more than 2 million people, engage in social, cultural and humanitarian exercises through a voluntary organisation.

The community sector is estimated to be worth €5.7 billion to the Irish economy and provides more than 63,000 full-time and part-time jobs, and pays €3.7 billion in wages. That is not to be sniffed at. Where would we be without the community and voluntary sector and its tireless work throughout the State?

The Minister indicated that he is aiming for a closer alignment of local government and local development, with the objective of reducing duplication of services, ensuring greater democratic accountability and decision making at local level and delivering more efficient and effective services for citizens. He mentioned his commitment to the rural social scheme, with €425 million being allocated for quality of life services, of which €62 million is earmarked for this year. I understand this is an increase of some millions of euro. I welcome this announcement and the streamlining of the different organisations.

On public expenditure, the cutbacks in various areas are regrettable. However, many of these cutbacks have been for the purpose of eliminating duplication. The previous Government introduced a reduction of 8% in the community infrastructure programme in 2009. In 2010 the Department's budget was reduced by a further 10%, leading to an overall cut of 18% and 20% in funding for community organisations. This Government, unfortunately, has also had to make reductions, although, as I said, this was in many cases for the purposes of streamlining.

Will the Minister indicate how plans for the setting up of an all-Ireland consultative civic forum, in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement, are progressing? On a previous occasion in this House I asked the Minister to consider establishing a forum at local authority level. We have the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, of which I am a member, and we are hopeful that the all-Ireland consultative civic forum will soon be established, but the ad hoc group that was in place at local level is no more.

Have the provisions of the Charities Act 2009 been enacted regarding regulation of charities and the establishment of a charities regulation authority? We are all in favour of good governance and effective regulation not only in business, but also in respect of the community and voluntary sector. The Minister alluded to that in his statement. Although many board members of voluntary organisations are to be commended on their talents, the 2006 Dóchas report into governance in the community and voluntary sector found that many individuals were unsure of their roles and responsibilities and there was a prevalence of individuals sitting on boards who were not perhaps suited to their particular role.

On the connection between politics and volunteering, many of us are here in this House because of our involvement in volunteer work. I was so concerned about the divide between politics and volunteering that I took off myself off to Maynooth to study community development and volunteering. There are many people on town councils who are volunteers and are not there for the money. They devote great time to these matters and we should not forget them in today's debate. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú referred to that. In seeking to avoid duplication in the provision of water, roads and planning, we should also recognise the input of town councillors and local volunteers. There are ways to accommodate their input; it is not a question of having to have a water authority in every town.

I welcome the measures referred to by the Minister in regard to philanthropy. There is great scope for development in that area.