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Press release

Minister Joe O’Brien officially launches Training Needs Assessment Reports for the Community and Voluntary Sector

  • reports provide a foundation for addressing training needs across the Community and Voluntary sector
  • three assessments undertaken in consultation with the C&V sector
  • implementation plan to be developed

The Minister for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, has today (Tuesday, 22 October) officially launched three training needs assessment reports for the Community and Voluntary Sector.

The assessments of training needs were undertaken within the framework of the government’s five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019 – 2024, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities. This sets out a long term vision for government policy and support in relation to community and local development, and contains a number of actions relating to the training needs of the sector as a whole.

In furtherance of the strategy objectives, these three assessments, undertaken by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development, and in consultation with the C&V sector, provide an analysis along with key findings and recommendations for the sector’s training needs. They relate specifically to:

  • Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs);
  • Small Community and Voluntary Organisations;
  • Boards of Charitable Organisations

The reports provide a basis in the pursuit of the best practice for central government, as well as state bodies and the C&V sector to progress appropriate support for training needs across the sector.

The Training Needs Reports set out a range of recommendations to identify and meet the training needs, implement a formal programme to meet these needs, and support capacity building in groups and organisations. Among the recommendations are:

  • provision of training on the development of local economic and community plans (LECPs), inter-cultural awareness and engagement of marginalised communities in local planning processes (which have been delivered);
  • provide governance training that meets the differential needs of the boards and trustees of organisations; and
  • an increased awareness of training available relevant to small community and voluntary groups

All three reports are available on the department’s website.

Speaking today, Minister Joe O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to officially launch the three Training Needs Assessment Reports undertaken by Pobal on behalf of my department, and in consultation with the sector.

"I note the range of recommendations to identify and implement a formal programme to meet these needs, and to support further capacity building in community and voluntary groups and organisations.

"There are an estimated 29,000 non-profit organisations operating in Ireland, in addition to over 11,500 charities registered at the end of 2023. There are thousands of people from all backgrounds who volunteer their time, skills and expertise to sit on the boards and management committees of these organisations, as well as working in every community and supporting people in a myriad of ways.

"This government greatly values the role played by the community and voluntary sector in the provision of services to all in our communities and my department will continue to work with colleagues across Government and with representatives of the community and voluntary sector to implement the recommendations in these reports.

"When roll-out commences, it will have a very positive and beneficial impact for participating groups and organisations, all of which make a vital contribution to Irish society.”

Notes

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities

The government’s five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019 – 2024, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, sets out a long term vision for government policy and support in relation to community and local development, and the community and voluntary sectors.

The strategy contains a number of actions relating to the training needs of local community development committees, the community & voluntary sector & the boards of charitable organisations:

  • Objective 2 - action 2.1, sets out to “Support community groups and organisations to identify and meet their training needs, and implement a formal programme of training (including governance training), to meet these needs and support capacity in groups and organisations”, effectively to support the capacity building of community and local development groups
  • Objective 5 - action 5.1 and Objective 10 – actions 10.1 and 10.2 refer to the development of a comprehensive training and support programme for LCDC Chief Officers, its members and local authority staff

Pobal is a state-supported organisation with responsibility for administering and managing government and EU funding aimed at supporting social inclusion and addressing social disadvantage in the country. Pobal works on behalf of Government to support communities and local agencies toward achieving social inclusion and development.

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