Red Cross: Up to 150 unpaid volunteers for every paid worker

A report being released today shows that volunteer work is vital to the Irish economy.

It is thought that Red Cross volunteers are worth around €5m to the economy here.

In celebration of the European Year if the Volunteer, the Red Cross commissioned the report which shows that for every paid worker with the Red Cross and Red Crescent worldwide, there are 20 non-paid volunteers.

However Fintan Breen, head of National Services for the Irish Red Cross, says that ratio in Ireland is 150 unpaid volunteers for every paid worker.