Skip to content

Media Release: Minister of State Jerry Buttimer launches Stakeholder Consultation on the development of a new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector

Eisiúint Meáin: Seolann an tAire Stáit Jerry Buttimer Comhairliúchán Páirtithe Leasmhara ar fhorbairt straitéis nua chun tacú leis an earnáil phobail agus dheonach

Media Release

Thursday, 3rd July 2025

Minister of State Jerry Buttimer launches Stakeholder Consultation on the development of a new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector

Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, today (Thursday, 3rd July) announced the commencement of a stakeholder consultation on the development of a new Government strategy to support the sector. The consultation will give organisations across the community and voluntary sector an opportunity to contribute to the new strategy. The Minister made the announcement on a visit to community projects supported by East Clare Community Co-operative Society Limited.

The announcement to develop a new whole-of-government strategy acknowledges the important role played by the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. It will reinforce the progress made under the current strategy: Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024, which was extended into 2025. 

The new strategy will look to build upon the structures, achievements and objectives of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities for the upcoming period 2026 – 2030. The development process itself will be rooted in the agreed set of values and principles for collaboration and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector at national and local level. These provide for foundation for all consultation, collaboration and partnership working between the community and voluntary sector and central and local government.

Announcing the commencement, Minister Buttimer said:

“Following a review the implementation of the Strategy over the last five years, I am pleased to announce that I have asked officials in my Department to commence the development of a new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector. This stakeholder consultation is the first step in an extensive strategy development process which will continue throughout 2025.The Government is very aware of the need to support this sector which contributes to a more just Ireland, working in communities to continue to build a more inclusive, empowered, equitable and prosperous society.

“The existing strategy, launched in 2019, has achieved significant outcomes over the intervening years. It is appropriate to continue this valuable work, and I look forward to a new strategy which can again bring together the state and the community and voluntary sector to work towards shared objectives, and deliver the best outcomes for all.

“Over the last number of years, the community and voluntary sector has played a vital role in fostering civil engagement, promoting social and climate justice, and providing essential services to its members right across this country. Going forward, it is imperative that we retain and build on the positive relationships and accomplishments of the previous strategy and that we continue to support the sector through the collective actions that will be identified and implemented over the lifetime of this government.”

The development of the new strategy will be led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in collaboration with the Cross-Sectoral Group on local and community development. The Department will engage with national and local government and key stakeholders from the community and voluntary sector.

The new strategy will set out clear objectives, and specific actions to be implemented in a collaborative manner.

The online stakeholder consultation is available here and is open until close of business on Friday, 15th August 2025. All responses received will be treated in confidence.




Eisiúint Meáin 

03 Iúil 2025 

Seolann an tAire Stáit Jerry Buttimer Comhairliúchán Páirtithe Leasmhara ar fhorbairt straitéis nua chun tacú leis an earnáil phobail agus dheonach

Inniu (Déardaoin, an 3 Iúil), d’fhógair an tAire Stáit atá freagrach as Forbairt Phobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer T.D., gur cuireadh tús le comhairliúchán páirtithe leasmhara maidir le forbairt straitéise nua Rialtais chun tacú leis an earnáil. Tabharfaidh an comhairliúchán deis d’eagraíochtaí ar fud na hearnála pobail agus deonaí cur leis an straitéis nua. Rinne an tAire an fógra agus é ar chuairt ar thionscadail phobail a fhaigheann tacaíocht ó Chomharchumann Pobail Oirthear an Chláir Teoranta.

Aithnítear leis an bhfógra straitéis nua uile-rialtais a fhorbairt an ról tábhachtach atá ag an earnáil phobail agus dheonach in Éirinn. Neartóidh sé an dul chun cinn atá déanta faoin straitéis reatha: Pobail Inbhuanaithe, Chuimsitheacha agus Chumhachtaithe: Straitéis cúig bliana chun tacú leis an earnáil phobail agus dheonach in Éirinn 2019-2024, a síneadh go dtí 2025.

Féachfaidh an straitéis nua le struchtúir, éachtaí agus cuspóirí Phobail Inbhuanaithe, Chuimsitheacha agus Chumhachtaithe don tréimhse atá le teacht 2026 – 2030 a fhorbairt. Beidh an próiseas forbartha féin fréamhaithe sa tsraith luachanna agus prionsabal comhaontaithe maidir le comhoibriú agus comhpháirtíocht leis an bpobal agus leis an earnáil dheonach ar an leibhéal náisiúnta agus áitiúil. Soláthraíonn siad seo bunús do gach comhairliúchán, comhoibriú agus comhpháirtíocht idir an pobal agus an earnáil dheonach agus an rialtas láir agus áitiúil.

Ag fógairt tús an comhairliúcháin, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:

“Tar éis athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise le cúig bliana anuas, tá áthas orm a fhógairt gur iarr mé ar oifigigh i mo Roinn tosú ar fhorbairt straitéise nua chun tacú leis an earnáil phobail agus dheonach. Is é an comhairliúchán seo le páirtithe leasmhara an chéad chéim i bpróiseas fairsing forbartha straitéise a leanfaidh ar aghaidh ar feadh 2025. Tá an Rialtas an-eolach ar an ngá atá ann tacú leis an earnáil seo a chuireann le hÉirinn níos cothroime, ag obair i bpobail chun leanúint de shochaí níos cuimsithí, níos cumhachtaí, níos cothroime agus níos rathúla a thógáil.”

“Tá torthaí suntasacha bainte amach ag an straitéis atá ann cheana féin, a seoladh in 2019, le blianta beaga anuas. Is iomchuí leanúint leis an obair luachmhar seo, agus táim ag tnúth le straitéis nua a fhéadfaidh an stát agus an pobal agus an earnáil dheonach a thabhairt le chéile arís chun oibriú i dtreo cuspóirí comhroinnte, agus na torthaí is fearr a bhaint amach do chách.

“Le roinnt blianta anuas, tá ról ríthábhachtach imeartha ag an earnáil phobail agus dheonach maidir le rannpháirtíocht shibhialta a chothú, ceartas sóisialta agus aeráide a chur chun cinn, agus seirbhísí riachtanacha a sholáthar dá baill ar fud na tíre. Ag dul ar aghaidh, tá sé ríthábhachtach go gcoinneoimid agus go dtógfaimid ar na caidrimh dhearfacha agus ar na héachtaí a bhain leis an straitéis roimhe seo agus go leanfaimid orainn ag tacú leis an earnáil trí na gníomhartha comhchoiteanna a aithneofar agus a chuirfear i bhfeidhm le linn shaolré an rialtais seo.”


Beidh an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus na Gaeltachta i gceannas ar fhorbairt na straitéise nua, i gcomhar leis an nGrúpa Tras-Earnála um fhorbairt áitiúil agus pobail. Beidh an Roinn i mbun oibre leis an rialtas náisiúnta agus áitiúil agus le páirtithe leasmhara tábhachtacha ón earnáil phobail agus dheonach.

Leagfar amach sa straitéis nua cuspóirí soiléire, agus gníomhartha sonracha le cur i bhfeidhm ar bhealach comhoibríoch.

Tá an comhairliúchán ar líne le páirtithe leasmhara ar fáil anseo agus beidh sé oscailte go dtí deireadh gnó Dé hAoine, 15 Lúnasa 2025. Déileálfar faoi rún le gach freagra a fhaightear.

Newsletter 27/06/2025

Welcome to another Cork County PPN newsletter ! Camden Fort Meagher are holding a Family fun Week from 6 – 13 July with a family festival on Fri 11th of …