Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department’s mission is to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies that ensure rural and urban communities continue to thrive. This includes community and voluntary organisations that provide vital services to our communities.

In 2019, my Department launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the Strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The Strategy seeks to create a vibrant and active civil society, developing opportunities for all communities to contribute, engage and participate in decision-making and policy implementation. Implementation of the measures contained in the Strategy is ongoing, working collaboratively with the community and voluntary sector through the Cross Sector Group on Local and Community Development.

Notwithstanding the above, it is important to note that the specific organisations within the wider community and voluntary sector generally have funding relationships with the Departments responsible for the sectors in which they operate. Budgetary considerations for each area are a matter for the relevant Ministers.

For 2023 my Department has allocated a total of €19.8 million in funding for specific supports for the Community and Voluntary Sector. This includes €6.7 million for the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO), €6.6 million for volunteering supports, €2.85 million for Public Participation Networks (PPNs), €2.3 million for the Seniors Alert Scheme (supplemented by an additional €3 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund),  €0.56 million for the Community and Voluntary Pillar, and €0.3 million for supports for philanthropy. This funding of €19.8 million in 2023 amounts to an additional €1.5 million in comparison to 2022 funding allocations, including an additional €1 million for volunteering supports and an additional €0.4 million for PPNs.

In addition to the above, and allocation of €52.39 million is currently provided for the Community Services Programme (CSP), which funds 420 organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model.  A redesigned programme was launched earlier this year and five-year multi-annual funding contracts have now issued to CSP organisations under which almost all organisations currently supported have received additional funding. Other community development supports include the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, the Community Enhancement Programme and supports for Local Community Development Committees.

My Department recognises the important work of charities, and community and voluntary groups, in supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our communities. The Government is aware of the challenges facing these sectors, and is committed to working with the sectors to manage these challenges and to support emerging needs within our communities. However, as noted, specific budgetary decisions are a matter for each relevant Minister, in the context of their policy areas.