Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, TD has announced increased funding for each of the 29 Volunteer Centres across Ireland.
Speaking about the announcement, Minister Joe O’Brien said “I am extremely pleased to announce a 12% increase in core funding to Volunteer Centres in 2025.”
“The Government’s investment in Volunteer Centres is some of the best value for money we can get. Volunteer Centres encourage and support volunteering locally by supporting and guiding individuals who wish to give their time freely, matching skills with need.”
In addition to the 12% increase in core funding to the Volunteer Centres in 2025, Minister O’Brien also confirmed that he has secured €730,000 in Budget 2025 to be used by Volunteer Centres exclusively to support further implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy.
Minister O’Brien added ” I launched Ireland’s first national volunteering policy in 2020 and I have heavily invested in our volunteering infrastructure since, to ensure that we have a Volunteer Centre in every county in Ireland. In 2020 Ireland had 22 Volunteer Centres, now we have 29 and those centres are going from strength-to-strength. Our volunteering infrastructure is admired across Europe.”
The Minister thanked Volunteer Centres across the country, and the national support body, Volunteer Ireland, for the enormous contribution they make every day “I want to commend and congratulate the staff and Boards of Volunteer Centres across the country, and at Volunteer Ireland, for their achievements over the years. I see the work you do every day and the contributions that you make, whether it is at the forefront of integration efforts and welcoming new friends to Ireland, or the quiet work that makes so much of a difference: organising, co-ordinating, facilitating and enabling.”
“And to all of the marvellous volunteers, please know that you are cherished. Volunteering represents the best of us and I am very grateful for all that you do with no expectation of reward.”