Nearly 500 concerns were raised about registered Irish charities last year, marking a decrease on the number of concerns raised in 2023, according to the latest Charities Regulator annual report.
A total of 493 concerns were raised with the regulator in 2024, down from 574 in 2023.
Issues around charity governance accounted for most of the concerns raised (42%), followed by issues relating to financial control and transparency (20%).
When an issue arises, the Charities Regulator engages directly with the charity to help them resolve the matter voluntarily.
However, the regulator will take further action when it is required.
Charities removed for failing to file annual reports
In 2024, the Charities Regulator closed three statutory investigations.
In addition, it took a range of other statutory actions including the removal of 38 charities from the Register of Charities for failing to file annual reports.
Each charity is required to file an online annual report within ten months of its financial year end, and details from these reports are published on the public register.
Eight charities were prosecuted for failing to file their annual reports.
The national record of Irish-registered charities (the public register), saw a jump of 43% in the number of views of charity records in 2024 (355,145), compared to 248,858 views in 2023.
Public demand information on finances and governance
The Charities Regulator said the rise reflected growing public demand for access to information about registered Irish charities, including their finances, governance and activities, as well as annual report filings.
Over the course of 2024, the Charities Regulator "proactively engaged" with charities and charity trustees who were defaulted on their reporting obligations to the regulator.
A total of 127 new charities registered in 2024, bringing to 11,445 the total number of registered charities in Ireland at the end of the year.
A further 199 charities were deregistered during the year, (including the 38 for failing to file annual reports).
Deregistrations can arise for a variety of reasons, such as failure to comply with legal requirements, findings of misconduct, or where the charity ceased to operate or changed its legal form.
'Number of concerns relatively low'
Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator Madeleine Delaney said the number of concerns received by the office remains relatively low every year, considering there are about 11,500 charities in Ireland.
"Having said that, the most common issues relate to governance, and a recurring theme is that of dominant behaviour, typically by one individual in a CEO, chair or founder role, who exerts or exercises excessive control over the charity's governance and operations.
"This is a challenge, and it’s an area that we, as the Charities Regulator, are preparing guidance to support trustees in dealing with," she said.
Ms Delaney said most charities in Ireland "work hard to fulfil their charitable purpose while implementing good standards of governance and complying with their legal obligations".
"However, for some there is still progress to be made," she added.
Charity sector worth €32 billion per year to Irish economy
Research by the regulator has estimated that the sector is worth some €32 billion annually to the Irish economy.
More than 280,000 individuals are employed by a registered Irish charity, equivalent to almost one in eight workers, and further supported by hundreds of thousands of volunteers.
Charities are registered in every county in Ireland.
The majority are based in Dublin (3,116) and Cork (1,186), with large numbers also registered in Galway (661), Donegal (510), Limerick (485) and Kerry (433).
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer said the report demonstrated "progress" by the regulator to regulate and support the charities sector.
"I am confident that the Charities (Amendment) Act 2024 will provide additional transparency, fairness and clarity to charities and their trustees, and to the public," he said.
"I also want to acknowledge the hard work of the Board, management and staff of the Regulator for their support and oversight of our charity sector."
