Written answers

Thursday, 30 June 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any State or semi-State bodies that report to him are currently or have been registered as a charity; the reason for the charity status; the person or body that holds primacy for accountability in those instances, whether the Minister or the Charities Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35009/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Of the State or semi-State bodies under the remit of my Department, the Higher Education Authority and Léargas are both registered charities.  The Higher Education Authority conduct work under the charitable purpose of the advancement of education. Education Bodies are currently exempt from the requirements under the Charities Act to provide an annual statement of account and to audit those accounts. However, the HEA is accountable to the Minister under the Higher Education Authority Act 1971. The HEA is required to keep and provide audited accounts annually to the Minister for Further and Higher Education , Research, Innovation and Science to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and is required to submit its accounts annually to the  Comptroller and Auditor General for audit.

Léargas is not a public body.  Léargas is a limited company and a not-for-profit organisation. Their charitable purpose is centred on the advancement of educational and learning opportunities through exchange – they seek to further the education of young people by promoting, assisting, encouraging and arranging the exchange of young people between Ireland and other countries in the world for the purpose of enabling them to develop an international perspective and awareness in all social, cultural, intellectual, educational, vocational, personal development and professional and economic matters. They maintain compliance with the Charities Governance Code.  Their operational costs are co-financed by the European Commission and Government and on that basis they strive to comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies to the extent that it is relevant and proportionate to their operations and practice.

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