Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2016
90. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of charities holding a valid CHY number from the Revenue Commissioners on 15 October 2014 that had completed their online registration on the Charities Regulatory Authority website by the deadline of 16 April 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21603/16]
View answerThe Charities Regulatory Authority ('Charities Regulator') was established as an independent agency on 16 October 2014 and is responsible for the registration and regulation of all the charities active in the country. The Regulator's initial priority has been the compilation of the statutory Register of Charities, with a view to underpinning and supporting its investigatory and enforcement functions. On its establishment date, all charities with a valid CHY number, i.e. with tax exemption status from the Revenue Commissioners, were automatically entered on the Register of Charities.
I am advised by the Regulator that a total of 8,034 charities with CHY numbers were deemed to be registered on establishment day. Of these, some 3,788 or 47% of the total had declared their information on the Register complete by the deadline of 16 April 2016. I am further advised that the relevant number now stands at 4,592 or 57% of the overall total. The Regulator anticipates that the rate of completion will continue to increase. However, charities should be aware that they have missed a statutory deadline which could potentially lead to de-registration of their charitable status. I am advised that the Regulator is about to begin a final phase of contacting these charities in the coming weeks to establish if they are still operating. Those who fail to respond may be subject to enforcement action later in the year and by not completing their details for the public Register are putting their organisation at risk of financial and reputational damage.
