New south Louth Senator James Carroll has welcomed €111,702 worth of funding for the Drogheda Volunteer Bureau.

Senator Carroll said “This funding stream was announced by Minister of State John Curran TD as part of a package of €3.4 million in 2010 to promote volunteering. The majority of the funding is to support a network of 22 Volunteer Centres across the country. The role of these centres is to match members of the public interested in volunteering with local community organisations seeking volunteers”.

“In 2009, we seen that the number of volunteers registering at the nationwide network of different Volunteer Centres increased by over 100%”.

“This emphatically underlines the key role being played by Volunteer Centres nationwide. In these challenging times it is important that dynamic individuals are given the opportunity to make a difference within their communities. The giving of time for others strengthens the fabric of our societies and defines the communities in which we live”.

The 2010 budget for volunteering will be just 4.5% lower than in 2009, reflecting the Government’s continuing priority to support ‘active citizenship’, something which I believe passionately in. Funding is also provided under this measure to organisations such as Board Match and Young Social Innovators, which encourage volunteering amongst professionals and students.

“Drogheda Volunteer Bureau is a strong, vibrant body and I look forward to working with them in 2010 in my  new role”, Senator Carroll concluded.

ENDS