Immediate release: 9 March
PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT LACKS VISION FOR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR, ACCORDING TO THE WHEEL
Dublin, 9 March - The Wheel, a national body representing 880 charities, community and voluntary groups, today expressed its disappointment at the omission from the new Programme for Government of a vision for the community, voluntary and charity sector.
Speaking in Dublin today, Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy at The Wheel said: “While there are many positive commitments in the new Programme for Government which have the potential to transform the quality of our public services, and while there are some commitments relating to developing social enterprises, the programme lacks a vision for the central role that Irelands charities and community and voluntary groups play in society.
Mr Cooper added that community, voluntary and charitable groups, clubs and associations form the fabric of Ireland’s civil society, and it is a bit disappointing to see that the only reference to the community and voluntary sector in the Programme for Government is one short sentence on the “vital role of the community and voluntary sector” during “during a time of recession and deep unemployment”.
“It is important that the new Government appreciates the extent of the work done by Ireland’s 7500 charities to protect the vulnerable and sustain communities in these challenging times,” continued Mr Cooper.
The organisation also welcomed the proposals for reforming the way the Oireachtas operates. “The Wheel is looking forward to working with the new administration to deepen the involvement of civil society and community, voluntary and charitable groups in national policy making. We will be working hard on behalf of our members and the community and voluntary sector to ensure that the new administration is made aware of the need to support and sustain organisations that underpin an equal and just society,” said Mr Cooper.
“Charitable, voluntary and community groups want to contribute more to improving the lives of vulnerable people by participating in transforming Irish social services. They are innovators in involving service-users in designing and delivering flexible, value-for-money, person-centred outcomes.
“We’ll be seeking to meet with the new Government to brief them on the need for a comprehensive support strategy to ensure that community, voluntary and charitable groups are funded appropriately, supported comprehensively and regulated sensitively, ” said Mr Cooper.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy with The Wheel is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on Tel: 086 176 9287 or email gert@wheel.ie. The Wheel is a national support and representative organisations for community, voluntary and charitable groups. www.wheel.ie
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