Services saved as volunteer centre escapes cuts

The Galway Volunteer Centre has won a reprieve and will not have cuts to its budget imposed this year, it has been confirmed.

The centre, at William Street West in the city, had feared it was in line for funding cuts – and even warned that jobs may be at risk.

But following a successful lobbying campaign, the volunteer centre has been awarded the same funding in 2015 as it received last year.

The grant of about €120,000 will allow the group to continue to assist up to 10,000 volunteers and around 500 organisations in the city and county.

“We have just been informed by the Department of the Environment in relation to our funding allocation for 2015.  We are delighted to find out officially that we will receive no cutback in 2015.

“This is particularly satisfying as we were told before Christmas to expect a decrease in our funding,” said Donncha Foley, the centre’s development manager in a letter to local politicians this week.

He had previously written to Galway City and County councillors urging them to lobby Environment Minister Alan Kelly. Mr Foley outlined in January that the centre had had no official communication from the department in relation to its level of funding for the coming year although the indications were that they faced a cut.

He also outlined that due to staffing difficulties within the department, “no funding, not even an advance to pay wages in January, can be issued to us.”

Welcoming the announcement that Galway Volunteer Centre is to be fully funded this year at 2014 levels, Labour Party city councillor Niall McNelis said: “I welcome that funding for the Galway Volunteer Centre has not been cut, especially as it was informed it was under threat before Christmas.

“I lobbied hard with both the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Social Protection. I explained how important the centre was in Galway and the difference it makes in the community.

“The funding of approximately €117,000 will assist with the 10,000 volunteers and the 500 organisations registered in the city and county.”