Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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637. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to ensure the Charities Regulator is fully resourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Charities Regulatory Authority (“Charities Regulator”) was established on 16 October 2014, pursuant to the Charities Act, 2009. Since its establishment, significant progress has been made in resourcing the Regulator, from a staff number of 10 on establishment day to 30 at the end of 2016. The current staff count is some 40.

The 2017 budget for the Regulator is €4,379,000, an increase of 64% on the available spend in 2016. This increased level of funding includes provision to increase the staff levels to 50 and my Department is committed to working with the Regulator to achieve its full approved staffing complement of 50 as soon as possible.