Appointment of Junior Minister with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities Welcomed by The Wheel
The Wheel, the national association of charities, has welcomed the appointment of Jerry Buttimer TD as Minister of State with special responsibility for community development and charities. Minister Buttimer will oversee a sector that provides essential public services in areas such as health and disability services, social care, and housing.
Congratulating Jerry Buttimer TD, Vincent Keenan, Chairperson of The Wheel said: “The decision to retain a junior minister with special responsibility for community development and charities reinforces the welcome commitments in the draft Programme for Government to ‘support thriving communities’. We look forward to collaborating with Minister Buttimer and his department to ensure that the community and voluntary sector is sufficiently resourced, comprehensively supported and sensitively regulated.”
Charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises make an often overlooked 'third sector', which is distinct from the public and private sectors. 281,250 people, or one in eight in the Irish workforce are employed in the nonprofit sector which has an estimated economic impact of €32Bn when indirect and induced impacts are added.
“While we welcome aspects of the draft Programme for Government, we emphasise the need for further discussion and clarification on several aspects relating to the community sector. A cross-departmental approach and sustainable multi-annual funding will be essential to ensuring the sustainability of organisations working to provide essential services and supports across society,” said Vincent Keenan.