Voluntary Sector
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-11
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Jerry Buttimer (FG), Cork South-Central

I thank Deputy McGreehan and I share her ambition in terms of recognising volunteering and its importance. We are ambitious. The Deputy is right that volunteering is the cornerstone of our society. Volunteers play a critical role and we are the better for it. It is articulated and reflected in the programme for Government commitment in terms of the second national volunteering strategy being published. As the Minister of State with responsibility in this area, I emphasise to the Deputy that we have a huge value in volunteering.
We are very much committed to supporting volunteers and to putting in place a programme of consultation to ensure that in the second iteration of the strategy as many voices as possible are heard. In that way, we will ensure that the objectives in the new policy will reflect the issues on the ground, as articulated by Deputy McGreehan today. Again, I express my appreciation, and that of everyone in the House, for the huge work and contribution being made by volunteers across the country. Deputy McGreehan mentioned County Louth in particular and it is the people from the wee county and across the country that are making our society a better place. For my part, as Minister of State with responsibility for this area, along with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, we are committed to supporting and celebrating volunteers and volunteering as an important part of who we are as a country. Volunteers are at the heart of the development of vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-11