Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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163. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that funding for volunteer centres will not be reduced as it would have a severe and negative impact upon their ability to carry out important work and functions; if in particular he will recognise the imposition of an 8% cut to a volunteer centre (details supplied) would be detrimental to its continued vital work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In our current economic circumstances difficult decisions continue to be necessary, but the Government remains committed to supporting the community and voluntary sector.

While allocations in most expenditure programmes remain constrained for 2014 , my primary concern has been to make every effort to ensure that the daily front-line services, including volunteer centres, provided with funding from my Department, are protected to the greatest extent possible. In this connection, I am examining options to minimise the effect of any reduction in the volunteering support budget to all volunteer centres.