Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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575. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a short temporary arrangement will be put in place in order that charitable organisations can continue to receive donations while they start the process of applying to become a registered charity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21773/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Charities Act 2009 makes it clear that in order to carry on any activities, including seeking and accepting donations, an organisation must be registered on the register of charities.

The Charities Regulator is responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. Its role is to provide effective and robust regulation in accordance with the Charities Act 2009. The Charities Regulator is independent in the exercise of its functions and has no discretion in relation to what constitutes an offence under the Charities Act 2009.

The registration process to become a registered charity is a necessarily robust one to ensure a vibrant, trusted charity sector that is valued for the public benefit that it provides. Not all applicants meet the requirements of the Charities Act and therefore not all applications are successful.

If donations are accepted by an organisation before their application for registration is successful then those donations are at risk. 

Those charities who have been through the registration process and are experienced in their area of activity may be in a position to fulfil the intention of the donors efficiently and effectively in the short to medium term.

With over 11,000 charitable organisations on the register, applicant organisations and others wishing to seek and accept donations in the short term are advised to find a registered charity, with the same charitable purpose and carrying out similar activities, to partner with.