Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount an organisation (details supplied) has received in grants or other funding from his Department in the past three years; the heading under which this money was given; the amount of this money that was spent on foreign travel for staff members; if the Department has carried out an audit of this charity in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25190/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has recouped almost €12.4 million under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 to local authorities in respect of 90% of revenue expenditure incurred by the organisation concerned on homeless accommodation and related services over the period 2007 to 2009. A further 10% has been provided by the local authorities concerned.

It is a matter for each local authority, in the first instance, to ensure that monitoring and evaluation arrangements are in place to ensure accountability for expenditure of funds on homeless services, both in terms of value for money and effectiveness of the services provided. As part of the Homelessness Action Plan process, relevant housing authorities have been urged, where necessary, to carry out a comprehensive review of services in their areas. The major review of services already carried out in Dublin has, I understand, encompassed services provided by the organisation concerned.

I understand that the Revenue Commissioners have granted charitable tax exemptions to over 7,500 organisations in Ireland, and that Revenue require that the financial statements of any such organisation with an annual income of over €100,000 must be audited. Also, depending on the legal structure adopted by a charity, they may be subject to other audit requirements. For example, an incorporated charity will be subject to audit requirements under company law.

Furthermore, I understand that when the Charities Act 2009 is fully commenced, the accounts of charities will be subject to either independent examination or audit, depending on whether their annual gross income or total expenditure is above or below a threshold to be prescribed in regulations by the Minister for Community, Equality, and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), which is administered by the local authorities, grants of up to 100% of the approved cost are available for the provision, by approved housing bodies, of accommodation to meet the needs of older people, persons with a physical or intellectual disability, homeless persons and other groups with specific categories of housing need. My Department's involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the scheme, including the appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. In the past three years, funding of €23.6 million was provided to the organisation concerned in respect of some 156 units of accommodation delivered under the CAS.

My Department also provides financial assistance towards the administrative and general expenses of certain bodies which provide information, research or representative services in the area of housing. Over the period 2007 to 2009, funding of €270,000 was provided in this regard to the organisation concerned. Eligibility for assistance is contingent on the provision of audited financial statements by the bodies concerned.

Information regarding expenditure on foreign travel by staff of the organisation referred to in the question is not available in my Department.