Peter McVerry Trust has 'financial issues'.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121165493#Comment_121165493

Not only did they lose the run of themselves, but they got caught up in pointless finger-wagging and blame, while ignoring the huge problems inside their own organisation.

JP Liz V1

The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) said it appointed the inspectors to conduct a statutory investigation

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/peter-mcverry-trust-work-inspectors-31034800

Last month, the trust said it had notified the Department of Housing of "potential financial issues" at the charity.

At the time, the charity said it was experiencing "acute" cash flow pressures and said it was aware of its obligations to "regulators and statutory funders to disclose challenges" when they arise. The trust was established in 1993 by Fr Peter McVerry, who had witnessed homelessness and deprivation in Dublin’s north inner-city in the years prior.

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121161536#Comment_121161536

I think all charities should be looked into imho

For Forks Sake

More on it, issues seem sto be dating back some years

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/multi-million-euro-tax-debt-is-at-centre-of-peter-mcverry-trust-financial-crisis/a589508684.html

It'll need to be cleared up what exactly has happened.

I like his comment “We’ll have to wait and see – and I am emphasising in all honesty there is no fraud. It’s simply a cash-flow problem that will hopefully encourage people to donate a bit more,” he said.

Fair play, we all need to dig deep for him this year. I hope he calls out the government for it.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167508#Comment_121167508

Why should the government fund a charity?

ednwireland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167545#Comment_121167545

because its doing stuff the government should be doing.

I always wondered how much in total of the budget does the government give to charity and ngos?

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167545#Comment_121167545

Would you be in favour of stopping all foreign aid so?

mikep

I get the feeling that all is not well here...what will further investigation uncover??

Has there ever been an explanation as to how a body lay in one of their flats, for possibly over a week, despite regular MVT staff visits?

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167618#Comment_121167618

A combination of things I imagine.

The body was covered, the place had turned into a "crack den" and the person who died wasn't a client of the Trust.

These charities deal with some of the most mentally damaged, chronically addicted and sometimes dangerous people in society.

Now if people want to get rid of all them which they seem to, there is nothing to backfill the services.

So addiction, crime, health, society as a whole will suffer.

Unless you think with their record on these issues our governance will step in and manage it?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167618#Comment_121167618

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/housing-charity-did-not-fail-in-its-duty-over-mans-death-chief-executive-says/42128301.html

The man, Tony Dempsey was killed and his body concealed by persons unknown.

Gardai opened a murder enquiry but to date nobody has been charged.

mikep

Ideally we shouldn't need charities to provide these services.

We are years from that but when the charities that say they are providing these services, the least we can expect is that they do so effectively

The "crack den" flat and now the financial shenanigans would suggest that they have taken on more than they can effectively manage.

geographica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121166748#Comment_121166748

Especially the Catholic Church

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167695#Comment_121167695

Do you not think some council managed properties are not "crack dens"?

What you want is optimal outcomes, doesn't work like that when you are dealing with chronically sick people.

If the trust is suffering financially then by all means get the people in to uncover and fix it, equating that with a murder is just plain silly.

The constantly up in arms seems to think if we get rid of charities the problems they address will magically disappear too, it's beyond remedial.

blanch152

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/multi-million-euro-tax-debt-is-at-centre-of-peter-mcverry-trust-financial-crisis/a589508684.html

How come this debt isn't visible in the accounts that were taken down???

mikep

I never said that if charities were gone that the problems would disappear too...

In a an ideal society we would have adequately funded services to deal with people's housing, mental health and addiction needs if they need help.

Atlantic Dawn

500 'employees' in the organisation, sweet jaysus, I thought it involved about 30 people.

“During that time, our fundraising events were cancelled, our income dropped substantially, so now we’re having to pay back the back taxes, along with our monthly tax liability for PAYE and PRSI for over 500 employees, so that’s challenging.

https://www.thejournal.ie/peter-mcverry-trust-regulator-inspection-6181431-Sep2023/

gundry

I used to be a charity giver especially to Pieta whom I had good reason to support.

i was very angry when I discovered that a good portion of my donations were going to pay the almost 150,000 salary of the CEO

especially when the Organization is so strapped for cash.I will not longer donate to any charity which has such huge salaries for their staff.

shame on them.

griffin100

In 2021 the Peter McVerry Trust had income of €53m, Focus Ireland's income was €41m, the Simon Community €26m, DePaul Ireland €19m........That's €139m between these 4 charities alone. There are also 500 Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland with their own substantial incomes. In 2021 Cluid for example had an income of €76m.

I have no issues with their staff being paid well, but this is a massive industry that is self perpetuating. With the sums of money involved here, especially taxpayers money, there needs to be proper oversight.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121168348#Comment_121168348

Well, this is kind of the problem I have. The government is democratically elected and provides the services that its mandate allows it to. So if homeless services required, the government pays for it and provides it directly. This ensures that a whole poverty industry doesn't arise around this. Look at Peter McVerry charity. Now with 500 people involved, it doesn't want the homeless issue solved. More homeless people means more publicity for the Trust, more money for the Trust, and a bigger salary for the CEO. Solve the homeless issue and the golden goose is dead and the gravy train gets parked.

Charities can step into the gap and fund services the government doesn't want to or isn't mandated to. For example, I would like to see the churches take over religious education and the government get out of funding it. Churches are charities and can raise money from their members to pay for the education. That is an example of a charity funding a gap that the government shouldn't be doing.

Similarly, if there are extraordinary things, like funding trips to Lourdes for old people, or Disneyland for sick young people, those are things that the taxpayer shouldn't be involved in, but charities can do. Or, if you want to provide better or different homeless meals than those supplied by the government, a charity can step in.

All of that means that charities shouldn't be funded by government.

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169432#Comment_121169432

Nah.

The government have farmed out responsibility on services it should be providing.

It's centre right economics, sell everything that is and isn't nailed down and then sell the nails.

The "industry" was created by a dereliction of successive governance by design.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169400#Comment_121169400

Surely the onus is on all these homeless charities NOT to solve the crisis?

If there was very few homeless people, there would be no need for them?

Rubberchikken

Any time I've ever questioned homeless charities including this one I've been made to feel a monster by others who think these charities are above suspicion.

There are way too many of them in this country.

Why does the government give so much to this trust? Over the past few years how much housing could have been built with that money.

I realise this issue seems to be tax due to revenue but I'd say open the Pandora's Box and let the rot out.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169400#Comment_121169400

At an average build cost of €200k, you could build nearly 700 houses a year on the funding for those four. You could get build costs down to €200k by building on state owned land, a simple finish, i.e. no kitchen fitted, only main bathroom fitted, electrical fittings to be done by homeowner etc. (which is the way houses are finished in other countries).

Agent Coulson

There are over 10k registered charities in Ireland.

That's about 1 charity for every 500 people in this Country.

Potatoeman

These charities should not be housing addicts in apparent complexes. I’m sorry they have decided to destroy their lives but other apartment residents should not have to deal with junkies and the problems they bring with them.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169703#Comment_121169703

So where should the drug users be (ware)housed? I don't want them causing trouble in the industrial estate I work in, or my apartment complex, of my estate. So??..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169598#Comment_121169598

If the issue is tax due to Revenue, then it's just the government paying itself if they bail these guys out.

This will be like RTE, frivolous expenses will be exposed, no lessons will be learned.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169801#Comment_121169801

Why should the government bail one charity out only?

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121169598#Comment_121169598

Absolutely, and this charity in particular has been set above all others. Hopefully it means we won't have to listen to them anymore.