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VCI Welcomes the Government’s Response to the Ideas Campaign.
The Governement has announced its response to the Ideas Campaign, the independent citizens initiative for economic recovery and renewal. A total of 17 of the 44 ideas included in the campaign’s Action Plan, in areas such as active citizenship, the knowledge economy, tourism and government finances, are to be implemented on the recommendation of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal.
VCI welcomes the Government’s response to the recommendations relating to volunteering as an acknowledgement of the vital role of volunteering in Irish society and its potential to positively influence how Ireland copes with recession. As has been widely reported, the biggest challenge facing Ireland is not only rising unemployment but the likelihood of people remaining unemployed long-term. Volunteering can be a means through which individuals maintain or, indeed, develop their skill set whilst keeping engaged with their community. This can only happen, of course, if there are appropriate levels of volunteering opportunities for people to get involved in. In particular, we welcome the government’s acknowledgment that community and voluntary groups require support to engage volunteers and their specific commitment to building capacity and awareness in this respect. VCI and our member Volunteer Centres look forward to working with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal and other agencies in delivering on the recommendations.
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