Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Minister of State), Department of Health
Intent: Volunteer Ireland made a submission to the Department of Health on Healthy Ireland Framework recommending the following: Conduct further research on the link between volunteering and wellbeing, in order to better understand and target interventions, Encourage increased collaboration between Volunteer Centres and Healthy Communities to deliver targeted projects around volunteering and wellbeing and Deliver a national communications campaign on the benefits of volunteering to wellbeing.
Methods: Submission
Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development
Intent: Secure funding to deliver training to volunteer managers and communications around volunteering
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
Follow-up email to Minister Jerry Buttimer, re-sharing a previously submitted proposal on delivering capacity building for volunteer managers; and a previously submitted letter on scaling the impact of Volunteer Ireland.
Meeting
Meeting with Minister Jerry Buttimer on Weds 3rd December where we discussed funding for communications and training delivery
Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs
Intent: Recognition of volunteering in the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
Methods: Submission
Details by Method
Submission
Submission to the Public Consultation on the Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.The United Nations has designated 2026 International Year of the Volunteer for Sustainable Development, coincides with Ireland’s Presidency of the EU presents a unique opportunity to shine a light on our incredible record of volunteering and cement Ireland as a leader in volunteering.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development
Intent: Secure funding to deliver communications on volunteering, to raise the profile of volunteering and inspire more people to volunteer.
Methods: MeetingSubmission
Details by Method
Meeting
Meeting with Minister Jerry Buttimer in advance of submitting above proposal
Submission
Submitted a proposal to DRCDG requesting funding to deliver communications on volunteering, to raise the profile of volunteering and inspire more people to volunteer.
Politician(s) lobbied: Bairbre Nic Aongusa (Assistant Secretary), Department of Rural and Community Development
Intent: The submission highlighted that many of the actions contained in the current strategy are positive but were not delivered or implemented. Cross-departmental ownership of this strategy is key to ensuring that more actions are delivered. Actions need to be more easily measurable to assess progress for all stakeholders. Actions should be clear and specific. An evaluation plan should be created at the onset of the strategy. The strategy should be adequately funded.
Methods: Submission
Details by Method
Submission
The submission highlighted that many of the actions contained in the current strategy are positive but were not delivered or implemented. Cross-departmental ownership of this strategy is key to ensuring that more actions are delivered. Actions need to be more easily measurable to assess progress for all stakeholders. Actions should be clear and specific. An evaluation plan should be created at the onset of the strategy. The strategy should be adequately funded.
Politician(s) lobbied: Neale Richmond (Minister of State), Department of Foreign Affairs; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Rural and Community Development; Jack Chambers (Minister of State), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance
Intent: Submission in advance of Budget 2026 requesting an increase in funding to Volunteer Ireland and Volunteers centres across the country; funding for the Community Volunteers Programme on a permanent basis, continue funding to support International Protection Applicants and displaced Ukrainians, funding for volunteer involving organisations to support their volunteer programmes and funding to support the international volunteer year 2026.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Submission in advance of Budget 2026 requesting an increase in funding to Volunteer Ireland and Volunteers centres across the country; funding for the Community Volunteers Program on a permanent basis, continue funding to support International Protection Applicants and displaced Ukrainians, funding for volunteer involving organisations to support their volunteer programmes and funding to support the international volunteer year 2026.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development
Intent: Met with Jerry Buttimer TD, Minister of State for Community Development, Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands to discuss the important role of volunteering in our communities.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Volunteer Ireland highlighted the following: volunteering plays a critical role in strengthening communities, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing individual wellbeing. Volunteers are the backbone of many vital services, from sports clubs and environmental groups to social care initiatives and emergency responses. For example, in sport alone, over 500,000 volunteers contribute their time to grassroots clubs and national events annually, providing €1.1 billion in annual value.
Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Hurley (Secretary General), Department of Rural and Community Development; Bairbre Nic Aongusa (Assistant Secretary), Department of Rural and Community Development
Intent: Inclusion of support for and investment in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s Statement of Strategy 2025 - 2028
Methods: Submission
Details by Method
Submission
We propose the following actions in the new Statement of Strategy: • Evaluate and learn from the 2021-2025 National Volunteering Strategy. • Develop a new National Volunteering Strategy to build on work done to date and address ongoing challenges facing volunteering. • Develop a comprehensive implementation plan for the National Volunteering Strategy, that is robust and inclusive of all relevant stakeholders. • Continue to fund and support Volunteer Ireland and Volunteer Centres.
Politician(s) lobbied: Colm Brophy (Minister of State), Department of Justice
Intent: Met with Colm Brophy TD Minister of State for Migration to discuss volunteering as a tool for migration integration and social inclusion .
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Volunteer Ireland highlighted the following:Volunteering plays a transformative role in:• Encouraging meaningful engagement among people from different cultural, social, and economic backgrounds;• Supporting the integration of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees; and• Creating inclusive spaces for people of all ages and abilities to contribute and connect.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development
Intent: Wrote a letter to Jerry Buttimer TD Minister of State for Community Development, Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands requesting a meeting to highlight the importance of volunteering in our communities.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Volunteer Ireland highlighted the following: volunteering plays a critical role in strengthening communities, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing individual wellbeing. Volunteers are the backbone of many vital services, from sports clubs and environmental groups to social care initiatives and emergency responses. For example, in sport alone, over 500,000 volunteers contribute their time to grassroots clubs and national events annually, providing €1.1 billion in annual value.
