Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the impact that the establishment of the charities regulator will have on schools and specifically if the boards of management of all schools with charitable status have to register with the regulator by April 2014; the level of registration fee; the documentation and information they will be required to provide; her plans to ensure that the new arrangements do not place an excessive burden on schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42542/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) was established on the 16th October 2014 under the terms of the Charities Act 2009. One of the statutory functions of the CRA is to establish and maintain a public register of all charities operating in the State.

The advancement of education is recognised as a charitable purpose in Section 3 of the Act. Charities established for the furtherance of that purpose will be required to register with the CRA. Under Section 40 of the Act, any organisation holding a valid charitable tax exemption (CHY number) from the Revenue Commissioners on the 15th October 2014 was deemed to be registered with the CRA. Schools and other education bodies that had a valid CHY number from Revenue on 15th October 2014 are therefore deemed registered with the CRA by virtue of this provision. These charities do not have to register with the CRA as they are already registered, but they will be asked by the CRA to supply certain information.

The CRA has begun a process of writing to all deemed charities, including schools and education bodies, to invite them to provide additional information for inclusion in the Register of Charities. These charities do not need to contact the CRA until they receive a letter from the CRA. The information that will be required is set out in the letters being issued to charities by the CRA and may also be viewed on its website, www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie.

Education charities that did not have a CHY number on 15th October 2014 are not automatically registered and will need to apply to the CRA before 16t April 2015.

I am advised that the CRA is not yet inviting applications from such education charities. Further information and guidance on the registration process for these charities will be provided before they are invited to apply. Registration and annual filing fees have not yet been put in place.