Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
91. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of Pobal's proposed review into its charity status; if the review will be conducted in-house; the timeline for completion of the review; if his Department or the Attorney General has an input; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38582/18]
View answerPobal is a not for profit company limited by guarantee, which was established by Government in 1992 as Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd. Charitable status was granted to the company by the Revenue Commissioners on the 20th November 1996. In 2005 ADM was re-named Pobal. In accordance with Section 40 of the Charities Act, 2009, Pobal was entered onto the Register of Charitable Organisations automatically on 16 October 2014.
The basis for Pobal having charitable status is tied to the objects of the Company, which are specified in its Memorandum and Articles of Association. I am satisfied that Pobal is fully compliant with the relevant legislative requirements including those of the Charities Act, 2009.
Notwithstanding this, Pobal has commissioned an independent review of its charitable status. My Department has been advised that this work is now at a very advanced stage. The board of Pobal will receive a final report upon conclusion of the review and will communicate the outcome of the review to my Department through our existing corporate governance and oversight arrangements.
Neither my Department nor the Attorney General has an input into this independent review.
