Minister Coveney, yesterday (Wednesday) addressed the National Forum to Develop a Framework Policy for Local & Community Development at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham.  The aim of the event was to progress a plan for the implementation of the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland. The Wheel welcomes Minister Coveney’s statement that "The [implementation] plan will contribute to the Programme for Government commitment to produce a coherent policy framework and develop a strategy to support the community and voluntary sector and encourage a cooperative approach between public bodies and the community and voluntary sector."

 

Commenting on the announcement, Ivan Cooper Director of Public Policy at The Wheel said: “The Wheel looks forward to further participating in shaping the implementation plan, and working with Minister Coveney and his officials on the detail of the process and timelines for the production of the strategy to support the community and voluntary sector committed to in the Programme for Government - to which the Local and Community Development Plan is a welcome contribution.”

 

As the national representative body for the community, voluntary and charity sector, The Wheel, has campaigned for a coherent national policy framework of the sector. A commitment to develop such a framework and a national strategy was included in the Programme for Government, along with the following relevant commitments:

 

 

The Wheel has committed to working with Government to progress all of these objectives.

 

 

 

Ivan Cooper, Director of Public Policy at The Wheel is now available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on Tel: 086 176 9287, or email gert@wheel.ie.

 

 

The Wheel is Ireland’s national representative body of community, voluntary and charitable organisations. Founded in 1999, we currently have over 1,275 members across Ireland, reflecting the enormous scope and scale of this vibrant and diverse sector. See www.wheel.ie.