Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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278. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there is increased funding available in his Department to assist volunteer centres and information services; if so, if he will ensure that a centre (details supplied) is provided with an increase of funding of up to €80,000 which is just two thirds of the annual cost of running a volunteer centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30590/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s Community & Voluntary Supports & Programmes provide a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. This programme supports 21 Volunteer Centres and 8 Volunteer Information Services, as well as a number of national organisations, including Volunteer Ireland. Over €3m was allocated for these organisations in 2016. With the assistance of Volunteer Ireland, my Department has recently initiated a review of the distribution of funding to Volunteer Centres, to ensure a more sustainable distribution of funding. The funding of all Volunteer Centres will be considered in the course of this review, and in the context of funding available following Budget 2017.