Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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119. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of funding his Department gives to Irish charities; the name of each organisation that receives funding; the amount of funding each organisation receives; the number that are open and transparent regarding salaries; and the steps he is taking to deal with non-disclosures. [53551/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government’s international aid programme, Irish Aid, which is managed by my Department, is recognised internationally for its effectiveness in producing results for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. About a quarter of Ireland’s overseas development assistance is channelled through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This reflects the strong contribution which Irish NGOs are making to the fight against world poverty and hunger, and the broad support which they continue to receive from the Irish public. Funding is provided to support the long-term development work carried out by NGOs in developing countries, as well as emergency humanitarian assistance and development education programmes.

Given the level of Government funding for the NGO sector, the issue of their internal governance arrangements is a matter of legitimate public interest. It is important to note, however, that NGOs are independent organisations. The salary levels of their employees are determined by the Board of the NGO and are typically funded from a variety of income sources, including general donations from the public, bequests and official funding. In relation to the funding provided through the Irish Aid programme, my Department appraises funding applications from the NGOs and assesses the cost efficiency and effectiveness of their projects and programmes and the basis of their expenditure decisions. Financing agreements between Irish Aid and NGO partners include clear parameters on certain cost categories, including administration costs. A limit of 6% of funding provided can be allocated to administration costs, with remuneration levels for senior executives being reviewed in the context of overall administration costs.

In 2012, Irish Aid entered into agreements for a new series of programme grants with the larger Irish development NGOs for their long term development work over a four year period. These agreements require these NGOs to follow best practice financial reporting standards for staff salaries as set out in the Statement of Recommended Practice in place in the UK. This British standard is currently used by Irish Aid, pending the establishment of the Charity Regulatory Authority. In line with the standard, these NGOs are required to set out in their published audited financial statements the number of staff receiving salaries above €70,000.

The statistical annexes to the Irish Aid Annual Report provide a detailed analysis of Ireland’s ODA, across a range of metrics including details of funding to non-governmental and civil society organisations. The most recent data published relates to ODA for 2012 and is available on the Irish Aid website at . Detailed statistical analysis of Ireland’s ODA for 2013 will be compiled early in the New Year and will subsequently be published on the Irish Aid web site.

My Department provides funding for the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission), which is a registered charity, on an annual basis. A grant of €254,000 was provided to the Commission in 2013. The Commission was established by the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991 to facilitate the administration of educational and cultural exchanges between Ireland and the United States of America. Under the Act, the approval of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ambassador of the United States is required for the engagement of an Executive Director and other administrative and clerical staff. Terms and conditions (including salary levels) for the staff are set by the Commission itself. Details of the staff salary levels are made available to my Department. Members of the Commission do not receive remuneration. My Department is provided with annual financial statements of the Commission, as audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. These financial statements are also laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

My Department’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Applicant organizations to the ESP should be established as registered charities, charitable bodies or voluntary/not for profit organizations. While the vast majority of funding under the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) is provided to organisations overseas, almost 12% of the budget is allocated to Irish based organisations. Recipient organisations here are typically active in providing services to returning or departing Irish emigrants or in promoting Irish heritage and sport abroad. Organisations receiving grants under the Emigrants Support Programme (ESP) are required to submit a financial report for each programme funded and financial accounts or audited financial statement. Full details of all funding provided by the Emigrant Support Programme can be found here: .

Through the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds, which support cross-community outreach in Northern Ireland and the border counties, cross-border co-operation and sensitive commemorative and cultural events, my Department has awarded a total of €1,751,183 so far in 2013. A table of all organisations awarded funding is set out below. Funding is awarded only for project costs. Salary costs are ineligible for support from the Funds. There are mechanisms for annual reporting and accounting by recipient organisations. Organisations in receipt of grants of €10,000 and above are required to submit a tax clearance certificate from the Revenue Commissioners and those in receipt of grants of €12,500 and above are required to submit independently audited accounts.

Departmental Funding