Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the active citizenship steering group established on 5 November 2008 is still in place; if so, when it last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13782/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In April 2006 the Task force on Active Citizenship was established to review the evidence regarding trends in citizen participation across the main areas of civic, community, cultural, occupational and recreational life in Ireland. Following a consultation process, the Task force compiled a set of recommendations to enhance active citizenship in Ireland. The main recommendations relate to increasing participation in the democratic process; improving the interaction between the citizen and state institutions at local and national level, measures to promote a greater sense of community and community engagement; further education on the issues around active citizenship; and measures that provide increased opportunities for the inclusion of ethnic and cultural minorities in an increasingly diverse society.

The Task force recommendations were accepted in principle by the then Government in March 2007. As a first step in implementation, an Office of Active Citizenship was established on a non-statutory basis in the Department of the Taoiseach. The then Government Chief Whip, was assigned special responsibility for the overall direction of the active citizenship initiative and was assisted in this regard by a Steering Group. The Steering Group met on five occasions from its appointment in October 2008 and last met in October 2009. In addition, the three Subgroups working on (i) the Active Citizenship Week (ii) the Active Citizenship Conference and (iii) Voter Education met a total of six times. The work of the Active Citizenship Office was discontinued in November 2009.

In May 2010, responsibility for progressing the Active Citizenship agenda was transferred to the then Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and on the 1 May 2011 this area transferred to my Department. Given the current resource constraints, it is appropriate that the focus on active citizenship is a more pragmatic one where civic engagement is mainstreamed into the work of Government at Departmental and Local Government level.