Volunteers are Ireland’s hidden infrastructure; it’s time we treat them that way – Kyne / Is iad na hoibrithe deonacha infreastruchtúr folaithe na hÉireann; tá sé in am an t-aitheantas sin a thabhairt dóibh – Kyne

Meaningful and practical reforms are needed to support the hundreds of thousands of people who give their time freely to keep communities across Galway and Ireland functioning, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate in the Galway West bye-election said, “Volunteers are Ireland’s hidden infrastructure.

“Thousands of people quietly keep communities functioning every day with little recognition. It’s about time the State acknowledged that and made it easier for them to continue to do what they do.”

Ahead of National Volunteer Week, Senator Kyne outlined three targeted proposals he intends to pursue if elected to Dáil Éireann.

He is calling for a national recognition scheme to formally celebrate the contribution of volunteers across sport, health, heritage, community development and emergency services.

Second, he wants the Government to publish clear, accessible insurance guidance for community groups, cutting through the confusion that too often deters people from getting involved or forces small organisations to fold.

Thirdly, he is proposing a proportionality review of compliance requirements for volunteer-led groups, reducing the administrative burden that was designed for far larger organisations but falls disproportionately on local clubs and societies operating on tight budgets.

“None of these proposals require massive State expenditure. What they do need is the Government to  take volunteering seriously, and to listen to people while removing obstacles in their way.

“In Galway West, our volunteers are the backbone of everything from GAA clubs to Tidy Towns, and mountain rescue. They deserve better than being treated as an afterthought.”

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Tá gá le hathchóiriú fiúntach praiticiúil chun tacú leis na céadta míle duine a thugann a gcuid ama go deonach chun pobail ar fud na Gaillimhe agus na hÉireann a choinneáil ag feidhmiú, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

“Is iad na hoibrithe deonacha infreastruchtúr folaithe na hÉireann,” a dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarrthóir Fhine Gael i bhfo-thoghchán na Gaillimhe Thiar.

“Bíonn na mílte duine ag coinneáil pobail ag feidhmiú go ciúin gach lá, gan mórán aitheantais. Tá sé thar am ag an Stát é sin a admháil agus é a dhéanamh níos éasca dóibh leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair atá ar siúl acu.”

Thug an Seanadóir Kyne achoimre ar thrí mholadh spriocdhírithe a bhfuil sé i gceist aige dul sa tóir orthu má thoghtar é do Dháil Éireann.

Tá sé ag lorg scéim aitheantais náisiúnta chun ceiliúradh foirmiúil a dhéanamh ar an gcúnamh a thugann oibrithe deonacha i réimsí an spóirt, na sláinte, na hoidhreachta, na forbartha pobail agus na seirbhísí éigeandála.

Ar an dara dul síos, ba mhaith leis go bhfoilseodh an Rialtas treoir shoiléir inrochtana ar árachas do ghrúpaí pobail, chun deireadh a chur leis an mearbhall a chuireann cosc ar dhaoine dul i mbun oibre go minic nó a chuireann iallach ar eagraíochtaí beaga clisadh faoi ualach an árachais.

Ar an tríú dul síos, tá sé ag moladh athbhreithniú comhréireachta ar riachtanais chomhlíonta do ghrúpaí faoi stiúir oibrithe deonacha. Tá sé mar aidhm aige an t-ualach riaracháin a laghdú, ualach a dearadh d’eagraíochtaí i bhfad níos mó ach a thiteann go míchothrom ar chlubanna agus ar chumainn áitiúla atá ag feidhmiú ar bhuiséid an-teann.

“Níl caiteachas ollmhór ón Stát ag teastáil le haghaidh aon cheann de na moltaí seo. Is é an rud atá de dhíth ná go nglacfadh an Rialtas leis an obair dheonach i ndáiríre, agus go n-éistfeadh siad le daoine agus iad ag fáil réidh leis na constaicí atá ina mbealach.

“I nGaillimh Thiar, is iad ár n-oibrithe deonacha cnámh droma gach ruda, ó chlubanna CLG go dtí na Bailte Slachtmhara agus an tarrtháil sléibhe. Tá níos fearr tuillte acu ná go gcaithfí leo mar iar-smaoineamh.”