Vol. 498 No. 4
262 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the publication, Accounting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice, published by the Charities Commissioner for England and Wales; and the proposals, if any, he has to make a similar publication available to tax exempt bodies operating under Irish law. [27382/98]
263 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the publication, Accounting for the Smaller Charities - A guide to the Charities, published by the Charities Commissioner for England and Wales for charities preparing annual accounts on a receipts and payments basis; and the proposals, if any, he has to make a similar publication available to tax exempt bodies operating under Irish law. [27383/98]
264 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the publication, Accruals Accounting for the Smaller Charities - A guide to the Charities, published by the Charities Commissioner for England and Wales for unincorporated charities with up to £100,000 annual income and with no branches or investment assets; and the proposals, if any, he has to make a similar publication available to tax exempt bodies operating under Irish law. [27384/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 263 and 264 together.
I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that they have copies of the publications referred to by the Deputy.
In my reply to a number of parliamentary questions asked on the topic of charities on 17th November 1998, I explained in some detail the manner in which the Revenue Commissioners operate controls and monitor bodies granted charitable exemption. These include the requirement that bodies granted tax exemption as a charity keep annual accounts which must be made available on request. In all cases, accounts are required to be submitted in respect of the first year of activity of an entity granted exemption. Bodies with income in excess of £20,000 must submit audited accounts.
The Revenue Commissioners are satisfied that the existing arrangements provide a proper balance in meeting Revenue's needs and ensuring that the requirements do not cause undue difficulty for charitably exempt bodies and they do not see a need to make publications of the kind referred to by the Deputy available.
As the Deputy will be aware the general question of the regulation and supervision of charities is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
