The Government has failed to encourage people to become involved in voluntary organisations throughout the State, despite promises by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern.
Urging action, Fine Gael's Mr Brian Hayes TD said companies should be given tax breaks if they made donations to charitable organisations or if they allowed employees to spend time with them.
He said a national accreditation scheme should record the voluntary work carried out by members of the public, who should then be given preferential treatment if they applied for work with State bodies.
Taxpayers who spent "significant periods" with voluntary organisations should at least be covered by the PRSI system, said Mr Hayes, the party's spokesman on social and community affairs.
He said local authorities should be required to produce a list of proposals to help the voluntary sector in their areas, while the student summer job scheme should be radically overhauled.