To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the impact that the stop-start nature of funding and frequent gaps between funding programmes is having on the ability of the community and voluntary sector to sustain their work within communities; and to detail what additional support they can offer to this sector.

At the Executive Meeting on 16th April 2015, Junior Ministers were remitted to establish a dialogue with NICVA on an ongoing basis about the role of the voluntary and community sector and the challenges they are facing.

Junior Ministers also gave an undertaking to report back to the Executive on any action that can be taken.

Junior Ministers have met with representatives of the Voluntary and Community Sector, Ministerial colleagues and received briefings from officials.

Following extensive engagement with Government Departments and the Voluntary and Community Sector, an Action Plan has been developed.

The intention is to present the proposed actions to the Executive for agreement after which the actions will be shared across departments.