A national association of charities has warned a crisis is looming unless funding from the State increases.
The Wheel has said several organisations risk being unable to provide essential services like disability care, support for vulnerable children and homelessness services.
It's called on the Government to set aside €150 million in Budget 2023 to protect the core health and social services provided by community and voluntary organisations.
"These organisations are experiencing an escalating crisis in funding and staffing, fueled by inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis", it said.
Ivan Cooper is director of public policy of The Wheel.
He told Breakfast Briefing people may not realise how many groups are voluntary.
"70% of services for people in Ireland who have a disability are in fact provided by voluntary organisations.
"And amazingly one in every three people in Ireland delivering public services are employed by a community and voluntary organisation.
"So there are upwards of 170,000 people working in this sector in Ireland".
He said funding to these organisations is not going up as costs rise.
"These organisations now are experiencing an escalating crisis in funding - so costs are going up... and funding levels remain the same.
"And staff are increasingly seeking work in better paid sectors, to address their own rising expenses.
"So unless State funders address the reality of increased operational costs, there's going to be a crisis - and people are going without services already".
He added: "People who work in these organisations are, generally speaking, not seeking to enrich themselves in the doing of it - there's much better paid work available elsewhere.
"But the problem now is that these organisations literally do not have the funds to provide even remotely competitive packages".
