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TWO REPORTS TO be released today by volunteer development group Comhlámh examine in unprecedented detail the work of Irish volunteers abroad.
The first report, compiled by VOSESA, identifies different models of international volunteering, emerging trends and growth areas.
The work of 90 volunteer sending agencies (VSAs) was analysed, and showed that while the traditional model of sending young people and professionals abroad is still active, there is a growing level of innovation in the sector.
The second report, ‘New Evidence on Overseas Volunteering from Ireland’, is the result of a survey circulated to 78 VSAs, 95 per cent of which operate on a not-for-profit basis and, together, placed more than 2,000 volunteers overseas last year.
Of the 2,120 volunteers who responded to the survey, there was an even gender split, most had attended third-level education, and the majority of their trips abroad lasted for less than one month.
The report, complied by economist Dr Pat McCloughlan, hints that public support for overseas aid programs is strong , as the level of donations for projects remains high and 60 per cent of organisations noted an increase in interest in volunteering abroad, despite the difficult economic conditions at home.
Good for Ireland too
The study found that an estimated 4,500 Irish volunteers were sent overseas in 2012. As much as €10 million was contributed to the Irish economy as a result of these activities, or 0.01 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supported between 411 and 481 jobs.
However, this still ranks Ireland lower than other countries such as Netherlands and Sweden, whose citizens contribute more than four times that amount.
The report also shows that volunteers are predominately in employment, contrary to the belief that it is mostly students who take part in overseas aid schemes. Forty-four per cent of all overseas volunteers from Ireland in 2012 were employed, 4 per cent more than students. This popularity is put down to the “short-term nature” of the work.
The popularity of overseas volunteering among employed people, as well as students, ties in with the short-term nature of the majority of overseas volunteering from Ireland and the popularity of individual volunteering [...] this accords with anecdotal evidence that more people in work are combining voluntary work abroad with their holidays or short trips away (e.g. house-building in South Africa).
Distribution of overseas volunteers by employment status before departure (Image Credit: Comhlámh)
Responding to the report’s findings, Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello confirmed that he will be launching a civilian volunteer corps in October this year, which follows on from the findings of the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid.
The days of getting any value for your money has been eaten up by greed in Ireland
Switching energy or broadband supplier is a nightmare. Deliberately confusing tariffs that make it very difficult to compare. Not to mention the time you need to invest. Suppliers should be mandated to provide clear transparent information and to use Plain English. This is what the CCPC should be doing….protecting the consumer, but I have not been impressed by any dealings with them to date.
@Noel_Random: I find Bonkers very easy to use when switching energy supplier every year. Compares what you are currently on vs whats on market now.
@Noel_Random: Switching broadband is the easiest thing ever. Pricing is extremely clear.
Energy is not too difficult either. Just look at unit rate but don’t forget about standing charge.
@Noel_Random: u know what they do,I personally do not know of anyone that reads the terms and conditions,u click yes,or on the phone u agree,if you’re on contract for 12 months,and after 5 r 6 months the bill goes up,I got caught with pinergy,and was told in the terms and conditions that it could happen,I said I want to cancel my contract,it’s 12 euro a month of what’s left to get out of it,the whole system is rigged to the ordinary person..
Nonsense
That’s funny because last I heard there was over 2 million Irish revolut customers so that’s quite a few people shopping around however a lot of institutions in Ireland are breaking European law by not recognizing ibans from other European countries, maybe if the Irish Central Bank enforced the rules even more people would shop around.
@Sean Whelan: who are the institutions breaking EU law that’s quite the accusation / are you sure you are not getting confused with the need to have an Irish banking licence in the market you wish ti compete / the market is regulated I am pretty sure they are not “breaking eu laws “ without being called out
@Dave Hammond: https://www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2022/07/26/revolut-iban-discrimination-means-i-cannot-get-paid/
They’re not the only ones doing this Dave.
@Sean Whelan: that was in 2022 when Revolut we’re waiting for approval of their Irish IBAN ( which they subsequently got and notified me to change minths ago / ti be clear I don’t think they were breaking EU LAWS as claimed
Try switching health insurance and be blinded by choice. Still no move on deposit interest rates! Not much choice there!
If €1 is equivalent to 60cent on my fuel bills with the extortionate price gouging by sseairtricity who only use renewables and no gas. Then the CCPC comments are worthless to me. There is the problem they are not protecting me or my hard earned Euros. Are they aware that’s in their remit. Ah maybe not because the government gave then toothless laws.
Imagine being caught up in a vulture funded mortgage where their interest rates are like bingo ball calling at any time for no reason. That the present Fine Gael encouraged to Ireland. But fair play the central bank governor told the government they do not want any laws to regulate this extortion.
Hear the question? Are we to just live in an economy where everyone euro is really valued at 60cent due to extortion or can the Europeans add an extra 40C onto our Irish Euro so we can live like every other European country.?
“Shopping around ” has been bandied around for years as the only consumer protection we have
God Forbid a regulator side with ordinary people for once
Having been through the pain of switching a business account from ulster bank it is a non trivial task. Shockingly we were only contacted by 1 institution looking for our new account details due to our ulster bank IBAN on file with them for payments. Trying to get the likes of eir or our energy provider to update to our new account details was a months long battle. Heck panda never updated our details and only for them leaving the energy market I don’t know what would have happened.
No surprise here. Some Irish have never given up their old ways and cling to them just as they cling to parish pump politics. Aldi and Lidl who have been in Ireland for decades were first shunned because of misplaced pride and a what will the neighbour’s think mentality. Thankful this attitude has changed. Unfortunately,Ireland is still not a nation of comparison shoppers who keep their eye on the ball of getting the most value for their money.
@Don Hogan: to be fair there was a bit more to Aldi and Lidl than pride / their original offering in the Irish market was very limited compared to the choice of offerings from Dunnes Tesco and SuperValu not least in Irish meats and Irish brands that everyone loved / it took them a few years to expand the range to include Irish tastes and trends and then more people continued to actually swap over / there was a bit of brand snobbery for sure but they have both done an amazing job and growing their appeal to Irish shoppers since they launched imo
@Dave Hammond: being shopping in Aldi for years now, can see the prices rising there too. Used to spend 40 odd a week for the two of us, now it’s 50 and 60 euros.
If these companies that do these Poll,makes my effing blood boil,why won’t they tell us,where to go if it’s that easy,there are 5 different big supermarkets in the town I shop in,and they are all charging the same,do these so called educated people,think that the people are so stupid,we need to be effing told where to go..in fact I find if u go from shop to shop,it’s more expensive,but the 31st of March,the AIB bank,had no problems taking our fees out,ww bailed them out,gave no help with the covid,and no help either now.but they will up the wages..reading this stuff,drives me so mad
Save ? In a bank !? Better off having a flutter in the bookies . Basically zero interest offered . Rev or the credit union are the best interest rates for a loan . Price bonds are decent too
I see. We’re doing it all wrong!
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