A NETWORK of 30 full-time, free information services for the public is to be established around the State. The plan is revealed in the Green Paper, supporting Voluntary Activity, launched yesterday by the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr de Rossa.
The centres, to be developed over the next number of years", will give people information and advice on their entitlements and on dealing with State and voluntary agencies. They will be set up by the National social Service Board (NSSB).
The NSSB already funds and trains a network of voluntary mostly part-time, Citizen's Information Centres.
The voluntary and community sector receives £487 million from State and EU sources, the Green Paper says. It suggests that a Community Trust might be established to channel funding. Such a trust would raise money from the State and from the private sector, would invest it and use the income to, provide grants for projects.
Other measures suggested in the Green Paper include:
. A national support body to help develop the voluntary and community sector. The body could be made up of representatives of the Combat Poverty Agency, NSSB and other relevant organisations.
. An obligation on all Government Departments to check how their policies will affect the voluntary and community sector.
. A review of the tax treatment of charities to ensure that the voluntary and community groups which emerged in recent years can qualify.
. The requirements of the Freedom of Information Act to be applied to voluntary and community organisations receiving State funding.
. Health boards and other agencies to eliminate lengthy delays in paying grants to voluntary and community groups.