Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of support his Department provides to encourage and facilitate volunteering, in particular in counties without a volunteer centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18901/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department's community and voluntary supports and programmes provide a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €3.5m is being provided in 2018 under this programme to support 21 Volunteer Centres, 8 Volunteer Information Services and a number of volunteer-supporting organisations, such as Volunteer Ireland.

Volunteer Information Services provide a valuable service in the promotion of volunteering in areas not covered by a Volunteer Centre. They act as a catalyst to encourage volunteering and also act as a conduit to match suitable volunteers with host organisations. While the aims of Volunteer Information Services are the same as Volunteer Centres, differences exist between the two, including the fact that Volunteer Centres operate on a larger budget than is currently allocated to Volunteer Information Services and consequently offer a wider range of services.

My Department has commenced discussions with Volunteer Ireland and the Volunteer Information Services to explore the possibility of upgrading Volunteer Information Services to Volunteer Centres on a phased basis. A report on the matter is awaited from Volunteer Ireland.