Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position in regard to grants for voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6726/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to the ongoing development of grants and supports to strengthen and underpin the work of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. Indeed, the growth of the sector in recent years has been accompanied by a significant expansion of grants by Government. Community and Voluntary organisations play an important role in implementing the more than €400m worth of schemes and measures funded by Department annually.

These supports are underpinned by the 'Towards 2016' Partnership Agreement, which recognises the valuable role of the community and voluntary sector. The agreement notes that the great strength of voluntary activity is that it emerges organically from communities and points out that while the Government should not seek to control and be involved in every aspect of voluntary activity, it does have a responsibility to provide an enabling framework to help the sector.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department provides funding to the community and voluntary sector for training in relation to capacity building in governance and compliance, strategic development, and service to communities. The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme also provides training and education grants for community development capacity building, IT training, or any other training priorities identified by local voluntary groups.

In addition, some 180 projects are being supported under the Community Development Programme. These projects play a significant role in building community infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of the voluntary groups within the communities.

The Deputy will also be aware of the extensive range of services now being provided by volunteer-led groups and organisations with the support of the Community Services Programme. At the end of 2008, over 420 groups and organisations were approved for funding, with nearly 360 of them operational. The remaining groups are due to get up and running during 2009. Based on information from the groups, my Department estimates that around 2,100 people are employed in delivering quality services across the country. This Programme plays an increasingly important role in delivering services — which would not otherwise be provided — by harnessing the capacity and resources of the voluntary sector and using these in partnership with the resources available from the State.

It is also worth noting that the Task Force on Active Citizenship recommended that a network of volunteer centres be funded across the country. The Department is now supporting twenty such centres which support, promote and co-ordinate voluntary activities around Ireland.

Further details in relation to all of the schemes and programmes operated by my Department that support the wider community & voluntary sector are available on my Department's website — www.pobail.ie.