Written answers
Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Department of Rural and Community Development
Departmental Strategies
Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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94. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of the National Philanthropy Strategy. [19392/23]
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department is currently drafting a National Policy on Philanthropy with the assistance of a National Advisory Group drawn from the wider philanthropy sector. The aim of the policy, which will be the first national policy on philanthropy in Ireland, is to support and facilitate philanthropy in Ireland and to further develop its potential.
Laying the groundwork for this policy began with a competitive procurement process instigated by my Department which commissioned Indecon Consultants to undertake independent research and to produce a report, in August 2021, entitled ‘The Landscape of Philanthropic Giving in Ireland'.
In December 2021 my Departmenthosted a consultative workshop: ‘Where will the Philanthropy of Today lead us tomorrow? Charting a course for the development of an Irish National Policy on Philanthropy’which was attended by 60 cross sector stakeholders including a number of European experts. In January 2022, the Rapporteur's Report on the workshop, including some immediate recommendations, was submitted to my Department.
Following on from these recommendations and those from Indecon's research, a National Advisory Group on the Development of a Government Policy on Philanthropy in Ireland was convened in April, 2022. Membership of the Group includes philanthropists, grant makers, government and civil society. The Group, chaired by Minister of State Joe O'Brien, has met on five occasions.
It is intended that a draft of the policy will be made available for public consultation within the next few weeks. Following the public consultation, a final draft will be presented to Government for approval later this year.
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update for the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027; and the plans for County Meath. [19318/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027,was launched last November. The Strategy was developed in collaboration with Comhairle na Tuaithe and is a collaborative cross-Government, stakeholder-led strategy. It reflects the views of stakeholders, the public and the whole of Government and it sets the stage to strengthen and support the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland for years to come.
Embracing Ireland’s Outdoorswill ensure that there is a joined up and coordinated approach to deliver maximum impact from the significant investment in the sector and to build on the natural advantages in place. The Strategy also aims to increase the number of people active in the outdoors, especially young people and under-represented groups, and to foster a greater understanding of how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Better planning and development of outdoor recreation infrastructure will be embedded through the Strategy implementation. This will lead to enhanced protection of the environment and will be in keeping with best practice management of landscape and habitats.
The implementation of Embracing Ireland's Outdoorsis being led by my Department and Sport Ireland and progress will be overseen by Comhairle na Tuaithe. A Strategy Implementation and Oversight Group has been established. The Group is meeting later this month to review the progress to date under the Strategy.
Guidance on the development of county outdoor recreation plans is currently being developed and will be issued to all stakeholders in the coming months.
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