Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Okay. We will ask for the Department's response on that and ask them if they are aware of this. We will also bring some of this information to the Department's attention. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1247 B from Ms Mary Hurley, Secretary General, Department of Rural and Community Development, dated 18 May 2022, provides information requested by the committee regarding the public funding of Benefacts. The Secretary General states that the termination of Benefacts was a matter between Benefacts and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and that the Department of Rural and Community Development was but one of many stakeholders. However, the Secretary General then goes on to outline that “under a separate initiative, unrelated to anything previously developed by Benefacts, the Department of Rural and Community Development is exploring options for the establishment of a centralised grantee database for the community and voluntary sector”. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

When I see words like "exploring options", it could all be a long way away. That is specifically in relation to their funding.