Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has provided grant funding to Benefacts since 2015 in the order of €5.7 million. Benefacts was initially co-funded with philanthropy. However, as the Deputy is aware, in recent years, the Department has been providing the majority of funding following the withdrawal from Ireland of a major philanthropic sponsor. Benefacts has also received funding from other State bodies to a total sum of State funding in the order of €6.35 million. In 2019, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform received an independent report which it commissioned to provide analysis of the market for data on the non-profit sector. On foot of this report, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform undertook a review in 2020. At this time inquiries were made to establish potential alternative funding sources from other public bodies and departments. Due to Covid-19, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned a three-month extension of funding to 31 March 2022. The Department for Rural and Community Development is currently exploring options for the establishment of a centralised database on the non-profit sector.

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