Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I want to thank the Senators for bringing attention to this important issue today, and it is in the context of the motion brought by the then Leader of the Seanad a number of months ago. In March 2023, I informed this House that as St. John's Ambulance Ireland is an independent organisation, it does not receive funding from Tusla or the Government. Although it remains my understanding that St. John's Ambulance is not the recipient of regular funding under Departmental funding schemes, it has come to my attention this week that it received funding relief under two bespoke Covid-19 pandemic-related support schemes, namely, the employee wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, overseen by Revenue, and the Covid-19 stability fund for community and voluntary, charity and social enterprises, overseen by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Earlier this week, I asked officials in my Department to make contact with the Departments of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and Rural and Community Development, St. John's Ambulance Ireland and the Charities Regulator to seek urgent clarity on these matters. The EWSS was a scheme designed to financially support employers and employees during the restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was open to employers who file their payroll submissions electronically through the Revenue online services. I am informed that St. John's Ambulance Ireland received funding relief of €240,773 in 2020, and €286,800 in 2021.In addition, my officials have checked other Covid-19 relief schemes which were open to all voluntary organisations during the pandemic and were provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Covid-19 stability fund. St. John Ambulance Ireland is listed as a grantee on this scheme, corresponding to a 2020 allocation of €290,500 and a 2021 allocation of €100,000.

St. John Ambulance Ireland, as an employer and similar to other employers in the State, was eligible to apply to the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, scheme operated by Revenue to provide for its employees who were unable to attend workplaces during restrictions put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, as a voluntary organisation, St. John Ambulance applied for the Covid-19 stability fund scheme. In the emergency context of that time, both schemes operated on a principle of providing critical financial supports swiftly to the broadest possible number of recipients in line with their respective terms and conditions.

The Charities Regulatory Authority is Ireland's statutory regulator for charitable organisations, including St. John Ambulance. It remains the case that I, as Minister, do not have a role in the governance or funding of St. John Ambulance. However, it is clear now that the information in my possession when I previously addressed this House on this matter was not accurate at the time. This is no doubt a source of frustration and anger for Senators and survivors. It is also a source of frustration and anger for me.

I am informed that the information shared today covers the full extent of public funding awarded in the last three years. Officials are continuing their engagements across government, however, and I will advise the House if further financial supports were provided. I note the two figures that Senator Seery Kearney mentioned in respect of 2018 and 2019.

Senator Doherty made the point in terms of the ongoing work to ensure the implementation of the Shannon report. My officials continue to engage with St. John Ambulance on this. I met with one survivor on 15 June and advised him on our ongoing efforts to ensure the implementation of all elements.

Following on from that and from our continuous engagement, we recently wrote to St. John Ambulance seeking an update on the low uptake of the counselling support services Senator Seery Kearney mentioned and an update on the appointment of the national child safeguarding or compliance officer, and also to seek clarity on the commitment to undertake the replacement of board members.