Jerry Buttimer
Cork South-Central · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Its priority is to provide scheduled public transport services on the TFI network. It works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport supports where it is possible to do so.”
“I commit to relaying the points the Senator has made on the floor of the House, and has conveyed to me in private, to the Department of Transport. To be fair to the Senator, it was not only this morning that he has articulated this. The travelling supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve additional transport.”
“I understand from the company that the Expressway team is currently examining whether additional services on route 22 will be added on the morning of Sunday, 26 July.”
“In this case, for Kerry and Mayo, as the Senator rightly said, it will see a high demand for scheduled and additional services. The Senator has outlined the volume of tickets sales. This is the busiest time for scheduled intercity services anyway, given that it is peak summer time, and that is a priority.”
“I understand from speaking to Irish Rail that it hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week - I am hoping this will be today or tomorrow - and it will advise customers as soon as these services are available to book.”
“The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA.”
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“I am pleased to confirm that Cork County Council's allocation also includes €500,000 to enable of the progression of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton project, which has been paused at the route options selection phase since 2021 due to funding constraints. This project consists of an upgrade and realignment of approximately 5 km of the N25 dual carriageway from Carrigtwohill to Midleton. It will separate local and strategic traffic, and deliver upgraded junctions. Most important, it will improve safety for all road users on the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Midleton. Those of us who use that road know that it has become very congested and popular.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this project on behalf of Deputy McCarthy, which I know is of great importance to him. The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for the allocation of Exchequer funding for national roads. As part of the annual allocation process for national roads, TII prepares the booklet for funding for each project for the year. We announced this year's allocation last week. Approximately €139 million in Exchequer funding was allocated to Cork County Council for national roads in 2026. This represents an increase of over €66 million for Cork County Council when compared to last year, and will help to progress a number of major national road projects such as the M28 and N25. I know Deputy O'Shea has been advocating a greater increase in funding for Cork.”
“There seems to be broad acceptance and agreement around this greenway, which is a positive. Our Department has allocated funding for the greenway project and we look forward to its completion.”
“I assure the Deputy that the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are very committed to this greenway project. The Deputy is right, and he paints a wonderful picture. I look forward to visiting with him again because he has painted a wonderful, broad brush of what it can do. It will drive economic change and regeneration. The point the Deputy has made is the vision will become a reality. It is not “if”, it is “when”, and all of us on this side of the House are anxious to progress the scheme. From our end, there are no barriers to the progression of the scheme. We have allocated money for the greenway project. The Deputy’s enthusiasm will help us to go back and further engage with TII to ensure that we can, with Wicklow County Council, bring this to fruition.”
“As the Deputy said, this will be a game-changer for the area. If we look at areas like Arklow, Woodenbridge, Tinahely and Shillelagh, these are areas that bring people in. They are wonderful spots and great tourist attractions. This will be an unlocking of further potential.”
“I genuinely thank the Deputy for his commitment and dedication to this project. As someone in the hospitality sector he recognises the importance of the greenway project. What might be unique in this case is that the scheme has general public acceptance and deserves to progress more quickly than others. In my own area of Cork we have a huge issue with a particular greenway, which is disappointing in terms of the level of engagement by TII. In this case, we have allocated money to TII and it has already expended or allocated almost €100,000 towards this scheme. There is a number of phases to go through, as the Deputy knows. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have always spoken about expediting and increasing the passage through gates in terms of projects. It is important for a variety of reasons.”
“The Department of Transportation – I will conclude on this – has committed €300,000 to this greenway project for this year. We are committed to the scheme. We hope to see, along with Deputy Brennan, it progress in the coming years.”
“The technical adviser will commence works to progress the scheme through phase 3, which is design and environmental evaluation. This phase takes into account technical, environmental and social factors identified in earlier project stages and will establish the definitive land footprint necessary to develop and operate the greenway. There will also be extensive engagement with affected landowners and stakeholders during this phase. It is anticipated that phase 3 will take up to 24 months to complete. Immediate tasks over the coming months will focus on engagement with the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway committee, as well as stakeholder engagement more broadly, procuring and undertaking necessary engineering and environmental surveys, and advancing design development.”
“That is why the Government and the Department of Transport allocated €59 million to TII this year, to support the greenways and active travel and national roads programme. One scheme being supported is the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway, as Deputy Brennan has articulated and outlined. Last year, this scheme completed phase 2 which was the open selection of TII’s project management guidelines. This is a significant milestone for the delivery of the greenway as it involves identifying a preferred route corridor for the scheme. Wicklow County Council is currently procuring a technical adviser to help advance this preferred route corridor through the development approval process. A successful tenderer has been identified, and their appointment is anticipated in the coming weeks.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter about a very scenic part of the country. I thank him for his advocacy. For the purpose of the question and the greenway itself, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to greenways. The planning, design and construction of individual greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland in conjunction with the local authority. As Deputy Brennan knows, and he has been a long time campaigner for this, the Government has long-since recognised the strategic value of greenways as sustainable transport corridors, as well as being catalysts for regional economic development tourism and community health and wellbeing.”
“The whole ethos overarching his question is about gathering information that will support future planning and delivery of services, including roads, bus and train services for the travelling public. It is an important question because it will facilitate the development of new routes and alternatives. I hope the Department, working with the NTA, can expedite the matter.”
“I could not get the Deputy's number, but I will happily meet with him to discuss it. Regarding Kilkenny railway station, that is under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, but I will get back to the Deputy on it. I certainly will work with him on the roads issue because it is very important. Deputy Neville is right about the M4 bus corridor. It has been built and should be used. The Minister has asked his officials in the Department to expedite the relevant legislation and he hopes to have it done by the summer recess. It is an important issue. As the Deputy knows, we are seeing progress on DART+ South West. He is right to raise the issue of the M4 bus corridor because the situation beggars belief. I thank him for his advocacy and ongoing work on it.”
“I am familiar with the situation relating to the M7. Deputy McGuinness is right that it has become heavily congested and is an absolute nightmare for motorists. We need a further conversation on what we can do there. I will happily meet the Deputy on Sunday in Nowlan Park to discuss the important issue he raised regarding Kilkenny city.”
“I reassure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and our Department, will continue to work with the NTA to ensure the network delivers on the objectives set out and that the performances are closely monitored as we remain focused on delivering services for people, the travelling public and the customers that they can depend and rely on. The Deputy is right. It is about ensuring that people in north Kildare have a transport system that is fit for purpose and takes people off the M4, as the Deputy said. I would be happy to engage further with the Deputy, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. It is about information and data that can lead to positive outcomes for the travelling public.”
“I thank the Deputy. He is right that the capturing of information is important. He spoke about the exponential growth in the Maynooth, Lexlip and Kilcock areas. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, spoke about the Fingal piece. The NTA is acutely aware of, and acknowledges, that the capacity issue is a challenge at times. The NTA continues to make efforts to incorporate and learn from the feedback we have spoken about this morning. It is important to recognise that, subject to planning, the recently announced BusConnects phase 7 routes should be of significant help.”
“On Luas services, TII commissions a yearly census over one sample week in October or November on both green and red lines during peak patronage periods. All tram stops are surveyed remotely using CCTV, with some in-person surveys undertaken for validation purposes. Similar annual surveys are undertaken at all Irish Rail stations, generally on a Thursday in November to reflect the busiest period on the network. The NTA acknowledges that capacity can be a challenge. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have also been on to the NTA about capacity issues. We continue to regularly monitor this and work closely with all operators to identify where improvements can be made. I will supply the Deputy with more information in the next part of my response.”
“It is intended to roll out the tool's use across the wider bus network upon the availability of all relevant data sets needed to estimate capacity and usage. On Bus Éireann services in quarter 4 of 2025, capacity surveys were undertaken on 25 selected routes where overloading concerns were recurring. Selected sample bus stops were surveyed remotely using CCTV and camera technologies. With regard to rail and light rail capacity, in the case of Luas and Irish Rail, fleet and driver resources, as well as track capacity, are now heavily used during peak demand periods so the scope to add extra capacity at these times is limited. The next tranche of new rail fleet, including battery electric DART, is expected to come into service in 2027, at which point there will be an opportunity to add additional capacity to existing rail services.”
“Liam, you are very welcome to the Gallery. Perhaps he will follow in the footsteps of his dad, his uncle and his cousin. Hopefully some day he might be here. I thank the Deputy for his question. As the body responsible for public transport planning, the NTA, along with public transport operators, conducts regular surveys of public transport capacity. To assist with the prioritisation of the deployment of additional bus capacity in the greater Dublin area, the NTA has recently developed a new business intelligence tool, using ticketing data to identify where capacity issues are being experienced across the bus network by route and time of day. For Dublin Bus, this was supplemented with 17 surveys to verify the accuracy of the results.”
“These are issues that we can look at and perhaps incorporate more into our road safety strategy. What he is talking about is low cost in the main and it makes sense. He is right that early in the morning and late at night the visibility is poor. It is something we need to look at and I would be happy to talk to him further about it.”
“I concur with the overarching thrust of what Deputy Cooney said. Our current road safety strategy is very much about what he said - reducing speed and improving road conditions. I reiterate the point that local authorities have that discretionary spend and have the option to spend on what the Deputy has said. The points he makes about road studs and cat's eyes are very valid. Local authorities should utilise the carrying out of maintenance renewal works in terms of pavement improvement schemes and road studs where applicable as part of the roads programme. There is a fund available for them to use. It is built into their budget for roads. Senator Noel O'Donovan has proposed that we look at our verges and drains, and the Deputy has made the point here today.”
“There is deterioration and there are areas that need to be enhanced and improved. The local authority has a role in that. From a departmental point of view, we keep everything under review. Road safety and the enhancement of our roads are priorities for us. In the roads programme we have allocated resources in that area. I would be happy to talk to the Deputy further on that.”
“I again thank Deputy Cooney again for raising this very important matter. As he knows, last week the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced a road funding programme to the tune of €780 million for regional and local roads across the State. While there is no dedicated programme for local authorities regarding the use and implementation of road studs, each local authority has a discretionary grant in its annual allocation. The total for this year is €86.2 million. Councils have that discretionary spend which can be used in improvement and maintenance works. As Minister of State at the Department of Transport, I would encourage all local authorities to inspect their road studs on a regular basis to identify some of the issues the Deputy highlighted. He mentioned west Clare and Clare.”
“In my own area of Cork, I cannot understand why TII took away the overhead lights on the N40, making the road dark now. I agree with the Deputy that the more lighting we have, the better it is for motorists and road users. It is a question that we might need to reflect upon on further, in particular in rural areas as the Deputy mentioned. I thank him for raising the matter in particular on our narrow country roads. I will talk to him further on it.”
“Each local authority is the roads authority within its own administrative area. The selection of roads for the installation of road studs or cat's eyes, as we know them, is a matter for the technical staff within the local authority. They will take road condition, road width, suitability for road studs or road hazard markers into account. The criteria for road studs or cat's eyes are contained in the traffic signs manual published by the Department of Transport two years ago. Section 7.10.1 outlines how road studs should comply with European standards and should be of a type approved for use by the Department of Transport. Section 7.10.2 deals with urban speed limit zones, which are being reviewed. I agree with Deputy Cooney that for unlit roads cat's eyes and studs play a role.”
“I thank Deputy Cooney for raising the matter with me this morning. It is a very important question. Like the Deputy, and Deputy Whitmore who asked a question earlier, we are very much concerned with the loss of life on our roads. Everything we do is about reducing fatalities and accidents on roads. As the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from the councils' own resources and supplemented by State road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with approximately 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads and bridges or for road realignments.”
“I do not understand, in 2026, how any person can sit behind the wheel of a car, lorry or motorbike, having consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs. I am not sure if the Deputy saw the RTÉ documentary two weeks ago, on which a very brave family bereaved as a result of a road traffic accident in County Waterford spoke. Their young son died in the accident. It was powerful and I commend the families on taking part. With that comes responsibility, and we will do what we can. I take the Deputy's point on enforcement, and we must embrace modern technology too. Will we see an avalanche of complaints from certain people because we are using new technology? I do not know but I hope we will not. I will work with the Deputy, and I thank her for raising this important matter. We both agree that there are families in mourning.”
“Enforcement is very important. However, we cannot have a garda on every street corner and junction, as the Deputy will accept. We are using technology and speed vans and increasing the use of average speed zones. The Department has invested in the safe routes to school programme and we have seen an increase in the number of gardaí on the roads engaged in enforcement. Just yesterday morning, when I was driving in here at 7.45 a.m., I saw a Garda Síochána checkpoint on Mount Street, which is very welcome. I take the Deputy's point and I will happily work with her on this. The Department, working with the RSA and An Garda Síochána, will do whatever we can, but there comes a point when we have to talk to ourselves about personal responsibility. Look at the figures on the increase in drink driving and drug driving.”
“We must look at enforcement and behaviour and, in particular, we must reflect upon speed, the use of drugs and the use of mobile phones. I will happily work with the Deputy, as will the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, on achieving a better outcome for us all. We all use the road and see the behaviour. The Department is putting pressure on the RSA to work and engage in campaigns.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who is responsible for road safety, sends his apologies that he cannot be here today. He has engaged, as have I and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on a variety of areas. The RSA has initiated a number of significant national public awareness campaigns on speed, drug driving, road safety for e-scooter users and motorcyclists, and road behaviour. I share the Deputy's concerns, but if I can make a generic point, we must look at this in the round and have an honest conversation about driver behaviour. Roads are now shared spaces and are not the preserve of one entity or group. They belong to all of us and we all have an obligation and responsibility. I am not in any way casting dispersions on anybody. We all know people who have been injured or killed on our roads.”
“It is imperative that we address the upward trend of recent years in the first instance and, in that context, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I do not believe it would be helpful to set a specific target for next year when we already have a clear objective for 2030. A range of important work is already under way across a variety of bodies and stakeholders to restore our long-term road safety progress, and we made huge progress on our annual road deaths, which saw a significant fall.”
“Any death on our roads is one too many and behind that death is a family, a loved one, a friend and a community where lives are being irreparably damaged by the loss of a loved one. Obviously, we are all working collectively and collaboratively to ensure that our roads are safer. Think of the people who have life-altering injuries from a road traffic collision. For these reasons, the only acceptable long-term target for road deaths and injuries is Vision Zero, and the Government remains committed to this goal. Achieving our 2030 target will require even greater efforts and a steeper rate of decline during phases 2 and 3.”
“We have seen an incredible loss of life this week and in the past number of years on our roads and our thoughts this morning are with the people who have died and were injured and the families. Everything we say is couched in that tragedy and loss of life, and I thank Deputy Whitmore for her very important question. The Government has, as the Deputy will be aware, prioritised phase 2 of Vision Zero. The Government's current road safety strategy has the target of halving deaths and serious injuries on our roads this decade, or no more than 72 deaths by 2030. Achieving this reduction based on an annual straight-line projection, the phase 1 action plan published in 2021 noted that deaths in 2024 would have had to be no higher than 122. Regrettably, we saw 171 road deaths in 2024.”
“I have taken notes and I will feed them back to our officials. Míle buíochas le gach Ball a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht iontach seo.”
“He is probably canvassing as well to be fair to him; maybe both of them are doing that. I thank all the Senators for their volunteering and what they do which is very important. As Minister of State but also as a person who grew up volunteering, I recognise our country is a better place for the contributions made by so many volunteers. Senator Flaherty mentioned the gentleman in Longford. Senator Scahill mentioned an 87-year-old man, a former councillor. We piggyback on them. The Government is committed to supporting and celebrating volunteers and volunteering because without them our country is a poorer place. I thank the Seanad for having this debate tonight. We need to do more of this in the Oireachtas not in an adversarial way but in a way where we can learn from each other.”
“I hear the Members and it has been articulated by them and others in terms of the balance between governance, responsibility and - not being cavalier about it - abandoning everything to make it. They are right in what they say about bureaucracy and the volunteer-led approach. We cannot burden people. I am glad that Senator Collins is big into fundraising. However, if we burden people with bureaucracy, they will run. That is what we cannot do. I would love to go with Senator Scahill on a Friday night selling the lotto tickets. I would say it should be some fun.”
“However, we are in a great position to harness the opportunities of people, built upon the first strategy. Our strategy is among the most comprehensive in Europe or even the world in terms of the policies but also the dedication that it has to the development and the celebration of volunteering across the country. I hate using the word "infrastructure" because it sounds awful but Senators know what I mean by the supports and the encouragement. I want to finish on the governance piece. Our network centres of Volunteer Ireland are phenomenal at what they do. There was a commitment from Government to match that. I finish by making reference to the burden and I hear the remarks of Members in that regard. I am a volunteer and now, as a Minister of State, I am wearing a different hat.”
“Senator Maria Byrne had a key point about respect and that we respect the people who give of themselves and who participate because it enhances and strengthens our communities. The new strategy is at a seminal point in our society and in our world emerging from Covid-19 at a more difficult time for people. We are told that volunteering is declining in some places. We have to get under the bonnet and see why and help people. Senator O'Loughlin spoke about the sense of belonging that reinforces our need to volunteer. I agree with Senator Tully in terms of PPNs. On the issue raised about the volunteer activation fund, it is under the auspices of the Department of Youth and Children and its Minister, Deputy Foley. I will raise that with her. For me as a Minister and as a volunteer all my life, we need to have a volunteering strategy.”
“Tonight is an example of that consultative process that I spoke about earlier, on what we have done around the country. I thank the officials in my Department who are very much of themselves of our communities, living, volunteering, inspiring and being inspired. For me as a Minister it is about ensuring we hear the voices that are reflected tonight in this Chamber in the development of the new strategy. It is built upon sharing that collaborative approach to co-operation that the first strategy had. I will reflect upon the debate here tonight and if you think about it, dependent on volunteers as we have said, the future is about bringing and nurturing the community and the grassroot volunteers in terms of the sustainable development goals. It also is about the focus Senator Collins spoke about in terms of the structural basis.”
“The whole youth sector is one we can look at again to see how we can get those young people to continue to be a voice. People say that young people are too young. They are not actually, because they bring the lived experience as the generation that had a Covid experience that we can learn from in how we can ensure that piece around volunteering feeds into the new strategy. Senator Flaherty spoke about the volunteering day here in this House. The Cathaoirleach and Ceann Comhairle could perhaps work with us on how we could celebrate that piece. I am open to that because it is about collaboration. As part of the outgoing strategy there is immense pride in volunteering. At its core the strategy was about fostering, promoting and enhancing that culture of volunteering. It is also in the programme for Government commitments.”
“It is measured every week when the kids speak about going to GAA matches. I am not sure the under-sixes are more difficult than being in the Seanad. The Cathaoirleach probably has an easier job now, managing you guys maybe. It is about bringing the history, the heritage, the arts of which Members spoke, education, sport and health all into policy. Equally, it is as Senator Noonan said the love of volunteering as we look to the future. It is about the best supports, the infrastructure and the scaffolding we put in place in working with our volunteers and volunteer bodies to ensure they continue to grow and prosper in order that we can have a regeneration. I am struck by what Senator Cosgrove said about that volunteer group.”
“I heard Senator Scahill speaking about the volunteer holding communities together. Senator Collins will be remembered because she said they are real people. Indeed they are. We are all real people. It takes an effort to volunteer. It takes time to do what everyone in this Chamber does because the contribution we make resonates and has an impact. The people who volunteer motivate and bring people with them. Senator Noonan mentioned Susie Long. We remember her today. It was her voice that built change. Equally, our communities are built upon that person, as I say, an gnáthdhuine, making the commitment and creating a vibrant community that is inclusive and builds upon best practice internationally. It is also about where we want to live and what it says about us. We can talk about the economic, cultural and societal benefits.”
“Ar dtús báire, gabhaim buíochas le gach Ball an tSeanaid a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht, a raibh a lán fuinnimh inti. I thank Members for their participation. I never thought we would hear Churchill, Gandhi and Muhammad Ali quoted in the Seanad in the same night. I am impressed. The contributions by everybody were fantastic, I thank all the Members. It shows the importance of all of us in this Chamber being of the community, volunteering, understanding and recognising that volunteering is the cornerstone of our society. We know that it is a critical part of our Irish life. I have heard the contributions. For me it is about fostering community, the spirit, cohesion, the fun and the joy we see in the bringing of change and the building of a community built upon people with people at the heart of what we do.”
“They come from their communities and bring a wealth of experience that I want to hear about. I hope the debate will be constructive. I am here to listen in a positive manner. It is great that the Chamber is having a debate on volunteering. I thank it for that. As I said, my spirit is one of listening and engagement and I hope the contributions of Senators will play a part in the next strategy. I thank the officials from my Department for being here. It is important they are here because this is an important Chamber which we must take seriously.”
“It is about recognising and celebrating the contribution volunteers make to our wonderful country and making our communities a better place. Our first national volunteering strategy is drawing to a close. I am delighted that we have embarked on a second national volunteering strategy, which we have worked on in the Department. We will deliver it later this year. It will build on the successes of the first one and recognises the engagement we have had with a variety of organisations. There have been myriad engagement in the compilation of the new strategy. It recognises that we continue to deliver. I thank Members for having a genuine willingness to listen as part of the development of the second national volunteering strategy. The Members of the Upper House are an important group.”
“Volunteers have helped during storms, Covid-19 and the Ukraine crisis, and today we reflect on the people of Ukraine as they embark on an anniversary we never thought we would mark and show that we are with them. When a crisis hits the first responder is a neighbour. In a variety of ways, we see the importance of volunteering. In terms of the record number of new arrivals to Ireland, the most impactful and effective integration supports were volunteer led or delivered. The Government is making additional supports available to community centres as they work with new communities to harmonise volunteering efforts. It is about the type of Ireland we want to have. At the heart is the person with the volunteer ensuring that we never take them for granted and can never say míle buíochas enough.”
“In implementing the strategy, the Department of which I am a Minister of State is working with key stakeholders to become part of the implementation group and subgroups to ensure that we deliver and are measured by our deliverables in terms of the Government supporting volunteering but also matching that with funding. Funding will increase from €3.1 million in 2020 to €7.7 million in 2026. There will be provision of core funding for a network of volunteering centres across Ireland and Volunteer Ireland. I commend all in Volunteer Ireland, the national advocacy body. This funding shows that we are delivering. Funding is also made available each year to carry out research and projects that support the implementation of actions and the strategy.”
“The strategy is a policy framework, building on the establishment of a nationwide coverage of volunteering centres. I thank all of the staff and people involved in volunteering centres for the work they are doing. I am very familiar with Cork and want to thank Adam and his team. The national volunteering strategy highlights not just international best practice but, from an OECD point of view, where we stand on volunteering policy. It is about a collaborative approach with stakeholders in the strategy's purpose in recognising, supporting and promoting the unique value and contribution of volunteers to society. In a couple of weeks, Daffodil Day will be an example of this.”
“Understanding the important contribution of volunteers throughout Ireland, the Government launched its first national volunteering strategy in December 2020. The purpose of the five-year strategy was to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution of volunteers to our society. The strategy also provides an opportunity for the Government to recognise how important volunteering is to the well-being of the nation and steer the delivery of an agreed ambitious vision. The national volunteering strategy has five strategic objectives with 56 associated actions, all of which have the aim of achieving its vision of a society where volunteering is promoted, valued, facilitated and supported so that people can contribute to developing and maintaining a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable community.”
“As a Minister of State, I am much more aware now than I was before of the huge impact volunteering creates in all aspects of Irish life. As a Government, we recognise the unique value and contribution of our volunteers to society. As I said, it is an intrinsic part of the fabric of our lives. Volunteering not only benefits communities and wider society, but also improves the health and everyday lives of the volunteers. Volunteering connects people to their communities, reduces isolation, which is a challenge we have to overcome as a country, allows people to learn new skills and enables them to get involved in causes they care about. Volunteering affords an opportunity for people to build on their skills and employability. As I said, it provides mental and physical benefits. It increases happiness and contentment.”
“In today's modern Ireland, it is in Tidy Towns and our arts and cultural organisations. I saw it as part of the movement on the marriage equality referendum. We saw it in Kildare with the animal rescue. On environmental advocacy, Senator Noonan knows about the circular economy and climate change. Our first responders and community responders, sports clubs and search and rescue show that people of all ages come together to volunteer and give of themselves. They are not looking for a reward or accolades, but want to support an event, organisation or charity. As we know, we cannot measure volunteering because it is priceless. The gift is unbelievable because it changes people's lives. It keeps our communities safe, unified, resilient and compassionate and also provides hope.”