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Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien today (Friday 25 October) announced increased funding for each of the 29 Volunteer Centres across Ireland.
Speaking about the announcement, Minister Joe O’Brien said:
“I am extremely pleased to announce a 12% increase in core funding to Volunteer Centres in 2025. The government’s investment in Volunteer Centres is some of the best value for money we can get. Volunteer Centres encourage and support volunteering locally by supporting and guiding individuals who wish to give their time freely, matching skills with need. In addition to the 12% increase in core funding to the Volunteer Centres in 2025, Minister O’Brien also confirmed that he has secured €730,000 in Budget 2025 to be used by Volunteer Centres exclusively to support further implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy.”
Minister O’Brien continued:
“I launched Ireland’s first national volunteering policy in 2020 and I have heavily invested in our volunteering infrastructure since, to ensure that we have a Volunteer Centre in every county in Ireland. In 2020 Ireland had 22 Volunteer Centres, now we have 29 and those centres are going from strength-to-strength. Our volunteering infrastructure is admired across Europe.”
Concluding, the Minister thanked Volunteer Centres across the country, and the national support body, Volunteer Ireland, for the enormous contribution they make every day:
“I want to commend and congratulate the staff and Boards of Volunteer Centres across the country, and at Volunteer Ireland, for their achievements over the years. I see the work you do every day and the contributions that you make, whether it is at the forefront of integration efforts and welcoming new friends to Ireland, or the quiet work that makes so much of a difference: organising, co-ordinating, facilitating and enabling. And to all of the marvellous volunteers, please know that you are cherished. Volunteering represents the best of us and I am very grateful for all that you do with no expectation of reward.”
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
Its focus is on strengthening community resilience and social cohesion, supporting communities so that they are empowered to face current and future challenges.
There are currently 29 Volunteer Centres across Ireland. VCs drive and enable volunteering in their local areas. Their primary function is to match individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities. VCs also offer advice and practical supports including training and Garda vetting.
In addition to these ‘business as usual’ activities, VCs also support various government policies and priorities. Most recently, VCs have been heavily involved in the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrival of significant numbers of people fleeing the war in Ukraine, and integration and support efforts for International Protection Applicants and other New Arrivals.
The National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025 was approved by Government and launched in December 2020. It is a whole of government framework to support the voluntary sector, which fulfils the Programme for Government commitment to publish a strategy to support volunteering, including the development of a comprehensive supporting infrastructure and measures to disseminate best practice.
The purpose of the Strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution volunteers make to Irish society.
It is a five-year strategy that comprises a suite of policy and strategic initiatives led by the department to support not-for-profit organisations in community development, local development, social enterprise, and community and voluntary sectors.
The Strategy is underpinned by the values and principles agreed by the National Advisory Group, and includes a range of actions to support volunteers and their representative organisations.