Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has discussed with Pobal its charitable status since becoming Minister; his views on whether its status as a charity may be in breach of the Charities Act 2009; his views on the need for a statutory body to identify as a charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19105/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Pobal was established by Government in 1992 as Area Development Management Ltd. (ADM).  The company has grown significantly and they now manage and administer programmes on behalf of a number of Government Departments.  In 2005, ADM was re-named Pobal.

Pobal is a not for profit company limited by guarantee.  Charitable status was granted to the company by the Revenue Commissioners on the 20th November 1996. In accordance with Section 40 of the Charities Act, 2009, Pobal was entered onto the Register of Charitable Organisations automatically on 16 October 2014. 

The basis for Pobal having charitable status is tied to the objects for which the company was founded which are specified in its Memorandum and Articles of Association.  I am satisfied that Pobal is fully compliant with the relevant legislative requirements including those of the Charities Act, 2009. 

Notwithstanding this, Pobal has informed my Department that it has commenced a review of its charitable status. The Charities Regulator has been informed of the process.  It is expected that the review will take 3-4 months.  The board of Pobal will communicate the outcome of the review to my Department through our existing corporate governance and oversight arrangements.