Mick Clifford: Voluntary sector does ‘the State some service’

One day strike action yesterday by Fórsa members at Enable Ireland in Tralee, Co Kerry, as part of a series of three consecutive one-day strike actions in care agencies in the community and voluntary sector.

EVERY country needs what might broadly be described as a community and voluntary sector. In a democracy that does what it says on the tin, the sector would be top heavy with charitable and voluntary organisations, raising funds for worthy causes or providing a community service, as done by organisations such as the GAA.

In this country the community and voluntary service is largely used to fill gaps left by the State. Some would say that it is effectively there to provide a yellow pack service, underfunded, understaffed, underpaid, and outside the responsibility of either the permanent or elected government.