Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has made any provisions to ring fence the funding budget for a volunteer organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the importance of the volunteer work it carries out. [31616/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department funds a network of twenty two Volunteer Centres nationally.

In the current economic climate, my primary concern has been, and will continue to be, the protection of front line services delivering vital programmes and initiatives, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities.

Ongoing funding for my Department's programmes for next year, and beyond, will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process. Assisting a continued positive impact across the Community and Voluntary sector will remain a key part of my Department's work in the coming years.