David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 789: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and location of volunteering centres here under active citizenship; the number of volunteers participating in each of the centres; and the amount of funding available to each of the centres in 2009. [33188/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides annual funding to twenty one volunteer centres across the country. A list of the Volunteer Centres and the funding allocated by my Department in 2009 is set out below.

To date in 2009 over 7,600 individuals have registered to volunteer across the network of Volunteer Centres. This represents an increase in registrations on last year of more than 115%. In excess of 2,000 individuals have already been placed in volunteering opportunities that will generate more than 190,000 hours of volunteering this year.

In addition, the Volunteer Centres provide a wide range of services in supporting community & voluntary organisations and in promoting active citizenship events such as 'Give it a Swirl Day', the national day of volunteering, which this year took place on 25 September.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 790: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the net effect of his proposed integration of the local development social inclusion programme and the community development programme with regard to counties Monaghan and Cavan; when the review of the community development programme will conclude; his plans for publishing the report arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33048/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The LDSIP and the CDP are my Departments two main social inclusion/community development programmes. Both have a community development element and both are delivered through separate local delivery structures.

I have already indicated that my strong view is that a single focussed programme with a single integrated delivery structure is now needed in order to maximise the impact of these two programmes which serve disadvantaged communities. The Centre for Effective Services is currently preparing proposals for me in this regard, which will draw on good international practice and independent advice. I hope to receive this in the near future with a view to rolling out a new programme early next year.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single programme across CDPs and Partnerships, my Department has initiated an evaluation of individual Community Development Projects. Many of these projects span across two decades with quite diverse activities. Again, I hope to have proposals from my Department in the near future.

While I cannot be specific at this stage about the impact on specific bodies in the Cavan Monaghan area, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focussed programme with clear objectives and simplified and streamlined delivery structures.