Ciara Bates

Ciara Bates is the Principal Officer assigned to the Voluntary and Community Supports Unit. She is responsible for the management and delivery of a number of funding programmes, aimed at supporting and developing local communities. Funding Programmes include the Seniors Alert Scheme, the Scheme to Support National Organisations, funding and development of the Volunteering infrastructure and the management of the Social Innovation Fund of Ireland. Ciara is also charged with developing policy on promoting and achieving greater levels of active citizen participation through the Public Participation Networks as well developing policy on volunteering and philanthropy. The Section also supports the work of the Community and Voluntary Pillar and is responsible for a number of Departmental initiatives under the Dormant Accounts Fund.