Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of times the steering committee co-ordinating activities for the European Year of Volunteering has met since it was established in July 2010; the activities and events being organised by the steering group to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13799/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Volunteering Ireland was designated the National Coordinating Body (NCB) for the European Year of Volunteering 2011 (EYV2011) by the Irish Government and by the European Commission. The work of the NCB is supported and advised by a broad-based steering group, drawn from a range of Government Departments and civil society organisations. The EYV Steering Group has met six times since July 2010, and most recently on 3 May 2011. President McAleese is Patron of EYV 2011 in Ireland and presided over the official Opening Ceremony, on 12 February 2011 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The event involved over 20 volunteer organisations and performing groups and over 300 guests, including volunteers from nationwide organisations.

The EYV website acts as the hub for EYV2011 activity in Ireland. The NCB updates the site daily and has launched a web campaign to profile volunteers and smaller voluntary organisations around Ireland. The EYV Steering Group members contribute to site content and have promoted the website within their own organisations, via their websites and newsletters. The NCB also distributes EYV promotional materials and online marketing tools such as EYV branded headers, logos and linked buttons to organisations, public spaces and to individuals who request them.

The EYV Roadshow is a public exhibition that travels to the capitals of each EU member state during the course of year. The Roadshow will be in Dublin from 22 – 26 August 2011 and the NCB is organising the event. A working group is meeting in the next fortnight to determine the themes, content and promotion of the EYV Roadshow event. The NCB is working with the EYV Steering Group and Volunteers Centre Ireland to develop the framework and content of a national public conference which is scheduled to take place in November 2011.