Call for tax credit to encourage volunteerism after fall in numbers

'Last year in Cork City, the Darkness into Light event for Pieta was under threat because of a dip in available volunteers, so the country will pay a price if the sector continues to decline.' File picture: Brendan Gleeson

The Government has been asked to consider introducing a tax credit to encourage volunteerism following a worrying decline post covid.

Former lord mayor and Independent councillor Mick Finn, who is familiar with the volunteering and youth sector through his professional roles, said the State needed to try something to "breathe new life" into the volunteer sector again after figures from Cork alone show the number of volunteer youth clubs has plunged by a third since covid hit.