Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he will take to support the European Year of Volunteering 2011; if he will establish a committee to oversee the year; the level of funding he will provide to support activities during the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11166/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Each EU Member State is required to designate a national co-ordinating body which will be responsible for organising its participation in the European Year of Volunteering 2011. The Irish nominee is Volunteering Ireland, a representative body whose member organisations include the GAA, the ICA, the FAI, St Vincent de Paul, Tidy Towns Association and the National Youth Council of Ireland. Volunteering Ireland is in the process of establishing a steering committee of relevant organisations from the community & voluntary sector, as well as State representatives. In carrying out its duties, Volunteering Ireland will be required to closely consult with a wide range of relevant stakeholders within civil society and, where appropriate, the national agencies or contact points of relevant community programmes.

The EU Commission will determine the indicative amounts available for grants to each national co-ordinating body. The criteria for funding will take into account population size, the cost of living, and a fixed amount per Member State to guarantee a minimum level of activities. The maximum EU co-financing is set at 80% of the total eligible cost, with the remaining 20% to be provided by the Exchequer, through my Department. Each national co-ordinating body will be required to submit a single application for EU funding. The application will be required to detail the national co-ordinating body's work programme to promote the European Year.