Carmichael House, a listed building, owned by the Eastern Region Health Authority, is the leaky umbrella for Carmichael Centre and home to the headquarters of 43 national charities. It is in urgent need of repairs, calculated to cost more than £1 million. And, although the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, launched the innovative strategic plan for the centre October 1st., they are still awaiting the cheque in Dublin's North Brunswick Street.
Roofs, gutters and electric fittings alone will cost £400,000. Hundreds of centre workers, along with members and their families, will be hit badly if a harsh winter forces inmates out into the street in Mr Ahern's constituency.
Carmichael House was built in 1864. It is a very beautiful building of rather unusual design for this country, another reason for that repair job. No wonder it is listed. The architecture reminds one vaguely of what we know of Indian design, from magazines and TV. Indeed, one of Dublin's rumours has it that the plans were intended for India by the British Government but executed here before the mistake was discovered.
A like explanation is given in another Dublin rumour concerning Beairic Mhic Aoidh (McKee Barracks), where I was stationed for some months in Signals (now Communications), in the early 'forties of the last century, during the "Emergency". It was there that I heard the rumour. A Dublin historian might care to let us know the truth: ╔amonn Mac Thomβis, perhaps?
Taoiseach's speech
On October 1st, speaking in the Carmichael Centre, the Taoiseach told us: "As you know, we are within a few months of the end of the UN International Year of Volunteers. It has been a time to shine a light on the importance of people volunteering to support good causes and the common good, as a vital activity in a civilised society." Yes; but where is the cheque, the Government support?
Mr Ahern continued: "You launch your strategic plan at a time when we need a resource like the Carmichael Centre as never before. The values and ethos you support here can be a powerful antidote to terrorism and the insecurity it promotes." And, later: "True democracy does not rest on passive participation. Democracy is dynamic, it's practical, it's about solving problems and making a difference for the community as a whole in a way which supports the community itself.".
Of course; but where is the dynamic, practical support of government, Bertie?
The centre's director, Kate O'Sullivan, followed the Taoiseach's address, said: "The five-year strategy adopted by the centre was inspired by core values of self-help, mutual support and co-operation, and the promotion of volunteering and participation in civil society.
"In response to identified needs, the centre plans to consolidate and develop new supports and services, expand the representation role and membership base, and to promote the centre's unique cost-effective model of support to other regions in Ireland. . . "
But: "The centre's capacity to implement the strategy is being seriously curtailed by the dilapidated state of the main building. . Repeated requests for funding to the Northern Area Health Board, which owns this listed building, have failed. . ."
Because of the unfortunate state of the building, "to minimise safety risks, the centre will be forced to impose restrictions on groups' activities."
Gloomy forecasts
Bertie Ahern escaped that afternoon without passing over the cheque. A lapse of memory, perhaps? But now, after hearing the gloomy forecasts of the Minister for Finance, we are all wondering if, one again, the voluntary sector, despite the eloquent praise, may have to depend on the generosity of the public, while doing the Government's job at a much cheaper rate, and not getting paid for it.
The five-year plan is backed by 13 years of progress. It began with nine groups seeking cheap office space in Carmichael House. Today, with almost five times that figure, it provides also duplicating facilities (at 3p per page); postal services; meeting rooms; a permanent address; and catering at conferences.
In recent times Coleraine House, the old fines office, has been added to ease the pressure. F┴S also helps with training and the centre today employs three F┴S workers. Rent paid by the groups, along with payment for services, helps keep the institution alive - just. What is needed is "multi-annual core funding", in the words of the director.
The voluntary groups are concerned with illness, social care, sport, education, the environment and disability. The centre allows groups such as the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, of which I have the honour to be a member, "to maintain independence while working together on common themes and concerns".
Strategic plan
Kate O'Sullivan explained briefly what was planned for the centre's strategic plan 2001-06: The first volunteer unit had been born in Carmichael House four years previously to provide support for members "and the wider voluntary and community sector on all matters related to volunteering."
(Last week, to mark International Volunteer Day in the UN International Year of Volunteers, the Volunteer Resource Centre became a separate organisation known as Volunteering Ireland, the national centre for volunteering.)
"Two years ago, we also set up our own training and support service which, again, though still small, is already providing a fantastic service to organisations far beyond Carmichael Centre itself. Again, this is the first for the Republic of Ireland".