Minister for Housing and Planning, Willie Penrose has announced that funding of €14,272 is being allocated to Westmeath County Council for 2011 to support the work of the Community and Voluntary Forum in Westmeath.
The announcement is part of an expenditure package of €587,000 to support the work of local community and voluntary fora across the country and their national representative body, the Irish National Community and Voluntary Forum in 2011. The local fora were established in each of the 34 county and city councils in 2000 as part of a Government commitment to promote partnership between the State and community and voluntary sector at local level. As part of the funding package, an allocation of €14,272 for 2011 will be made to Westmeath County Council in respect of the Westmeath Forum. In addition to this financial support, the 34 county and city councils are also actively involved in supporting the work of their fora locally.
The fora facilitate the involvement of community and voluntary organisations in local authority decision-making. They nominate members onto various local government structures such as Joint Policing Committees and Strategic Policy Committees. The fora are also actively involved in providing training and support for people involved in voluntary activity.
“The active involvement by local community and voluntary organisations in local authority decision-making is very important,” said Minister Penrose. “This funding will support the local Community and Voluntary Forum in Westmeath to ensure that local strategies are responsive to the needs of communities which is very important in these challenging economic times.”
