Prime Time will have a programme on charities including Peter McVerry tonight

I consider the investigative section quite good regardless of whether they are left or right.
I just happen to know one person in the investigative "wing" of Rte and I would not see that person as left or right.
I agree that overall I would see large sections of RTE as having a "Leftie"agenda
 
www.businesspost.ie

Six-figure consultant bills and a €1,000 per day CEO - how the state spent to steady the Peter McVerry Trust

A series of high-level probes into governance and financial matters at the charity were launched last year amid cash flow issues
www.businesspost.ie www.businesspost.ie

Behind the paywall, but here are some snippets:

Danny McLoughlin, the former chief executive of South Dublin County Council, was made interim chief executive of the body in October 2023. McLoughlin was paid €128,000 in total for the six-month period he was at the charity. The charity’s previous chief executive was paid between €110,000 and €120,000 per year. A permanent CEO was appointed in April 2024.

According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), the state’s spending watchdog, the Department of Housing has incurred close to €700,000 in costs so far due to its probe of financial and governance issues at the charity, with a further €864,000 in costs expected. :eek:

The C&AG report said PwC has been paid €469,000 for the independent review it conducted of the charity, with a further €409,000 due to the consultancy. Another €86,000 has been paid to PwC for the provision of support services to the trust, and an additional €455,000 has to be paid to the firm for this work..

The Department of Housing also paid €10,000 to a legal expert to chair an overview group that assessed financial and governance issues at the charity, while €6,000 was spent by the Department of Housing on “independent advice”.

The report noted that the department will also face costs in relation to termination of Peter McVerry Trust projects that were in the initial stages of development. It said the final cost will not be known until local authorities submit all claims for recoupment.
 
I don't know if this is the right thread. I live in an apartment block. Originally all the apartments were owner-occupiers or rented privately. Two ground-floor apartments changed residents recently and were not advertised as for sale or to let. I let people into the building who said they were from a housing charity, (had ID), to put up curtain poles and move in furniture, etc. for the new residents. These residents are well dressed, both drive big cars and do not appear to have needed the homeless charity's help. I know it is not my business, but I do wonder (as a taxpayer): did the charity (funded in part by the taxpayer) buy the properties? Why did they do the DIY for what appear to be quite capable men?
 
Why not ask the charity directly? I assume the name of it was on the ID cards?

Having nice clothes and a car doesn’t mean you have a home but I get where you are coming from.

It could be an investment property owned by a charity which generates income for them. If they own a place which can generate a high rent wouldn’t it be better to collect the rent and use it to fund cheaper accommodation for homeless people?

Maybe look at their annual report? Should be on their website.
 
Annieindublin said:
Why not ask the charity directly? I assume the name of it was on the ID cards?

Having nice clothes and a car doesn’t mean you have a home but I get where you are coming from.

It could be an investment property owned by a charity which generates income for them. If they own a place which can generate a high rent wouldn’t it be better to collect the rent and use it to fund cheaper accommodation for homeless people?

Maybe look at their annual report? Should be on their website.
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Yes. The name of the charity was on the ID card. I did ask them politely about doing the DIY and they said it is part of their charity service. This resident gets ongoing visits from them. I didn't ask anymore as I live there and don't want to impose on my neighbours privacy. It's just an observation about the car as running one costs a fortune. I have met homeless people who literally don't have a cent so I suppose it made me wonder how they establish who does and doesn't get a property.
 
Tadaima said:
It's just an observation about the car as running one costs a fortune. I have met homeless people who literally don't have a cent so I suppose it made me wonder how they establish who does and doesn't get a property.
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Annieindublin said:
It could be an investment property owned by a charity which generates income for them. If they own a place which can generate a high rent wouldn’t it be better to collect the rent and use it to fund cheaper accommodation for homeless people?
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The charity website will tell you a lot. And the annual report will show if they have investment properties
 
Presumably any owned asset is an investment in the long term. The charity visits this man and asks how he is getting on. When they can't get in, they ring the other bells and I let them in. I've told the OMC I do this, and they are fine with it, as are the other neighbours.
 
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Probably @Leo but very difficult when all the buzzars are pressed. I have asked those who do it to stop. I have notified the OMC about it and will go myself to the AGM again and mention it ........ again.
 
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Tadaima said:
Probably @Leo but very difficult when all the buzzars are pressed. I have asked those who do it to stop. I have notified the OMC about it and will go myself to the AGM again and mention it ........ again.
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Difficult to ignore, but easy to say no.
 
faketales said:
Has Peter McVerry spoken publicly on any of this.
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McVerry has been a talking head on RTÉ since the 1990s. His media appearances must be in the hundreds down the years. It’s an odd editorial decision not to even seek comment from him at the moment.

FWIW I think he’s a genuinely well-intentioned man who has done more good than I ever have or will. But I think that all of this proves that good intentions aren’t enough, you need good governance too.
 
Dr Strangelove said:
McVerry has been a talking head on RTÉ since the 1990s. His media appearances must be in the hundreds down the years. It’s an odd editorial decision not to even seek comment from him at the moment.

FWIW I think he’s a genuinely well-intentioned man who has done more good than I ever have or will. But I think that all of this proves that good intentions aren’t enough, you need good governance too.
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I agree on the good intentions but once you get beyond individual acts of charity and are spending donated or I believe in their case public money good intentions doesn’t cut it.

There are plenty of government ministers of civil service people in the area with good intentions but they are always judged by him on their actions or results.
 
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