I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 534 together.
The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) operates under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development. Section 14(3) of the Charities Act 2009, provides that the Charities Regulator is independent in the performance of its statutory functions.
My Department has no function in investigating potential breaches of the Charities Act, including recording the number of complaints received or correspondence with organisations on the matter of potential breaches of the Act. In addition, it should be noted that my Department has no function in reviewing the procedures the Charities Regulator has in place for investigating potential breaches of the Act.
The Charities Regulator’s complaints policy and concerns policy (for members of the public who are concerned that an organisation may be operating in breach of the Charities Act 2009) are published on its website www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie.
I am informed that the Charities Regulator does not publish information about concerns received in relation to individual charities as to do so could unnecessarily undermine confidence in the charities concerned and undermine the Regulator's function to increase public trust and confidence in Charities. However, I understand the Regulator intends to publish detailed aggregated information as part of a compliance report due in the coming weeks.