Charities such as the Irish Cancer Society and Pieta House have lost millions of euro after cancelling major fundraising drives due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Wheel, the national association of charities, said their spending allocations should be increased to ensure their continued viability and survival.

Though voluntary bodies now have better protection against claims, their insurance costs are still rising, writes Tim O’Connor.

These issues will be discussed as part of The Wheel's National Charity Summit at Croke Park.

The “legal extortion” of crippling insurance premiums is threatening the existence of Ireland’s social fabric, including farmers’ marts, festivals and community celebrations, GAA clubs, and even children’s charities.

Charities are snowed under with increasing reporting requirements and many risk bucking under the pressure, a conference has heard.

A new organisation which includes the Irish Hotels Federation and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has demanded an end to what it calls “crippling insurance premiums”.

A charity where payments in excess of €84,000 were made to the chief executive’s parents contrary to explicit instructions of Revenue has been given 21 days to come up with a plan to get its affairs in order.

Charities are welcoming the creation of the new Department of Community and Rural Affairs as a breakthrough for the sector.

Over 1,000 organisations have signed up to a voluntary governance code aimed at maintaining public trust and confidence in the charitable sector, it has emerged.

More than a third of charities have been adversely affected by recent controversies that have hit the sector, with many claiming donations have fallen as a result.

The charities regulator does not have the legal power to carry out statutory investigations of charities — as a section of the legislation has yet to be enacted.

The demand on charities is increasing despite economic recovery, according to data which reveals the extent of the problem. Out of the 262 charities surveyed by The Wheel, Ireland’s representative and support organisation for charities, 72% reported an increased demand for services.

A charities umbrella group has claimed that less than 5% of voluntary groups have signed up to strict transparency rules to prevent another CRC or Rehab crisis because of “government inaction” on the issue.

The Rehab Group is to consider changing its name following the damage to the brand inflicted by controversies surrounding pay and pension arrangements of former senior executives which has resulted in a €1m reduction in donations.

A new hepatitis C support group set up after its predecessor had funding pulled for "inappropriate and extravagant" use of public money is unlikely to receive any funding from the HSE.

European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has warned against allowing the economic recovery to sideline analysis of what kind of country Ireland should be.

Irish people are being asked to think up an unofficial motto for Ireland.

Six of Ireland’s most vital charities have urged the Government to put restoration of essential social services ahead of any plans to cut taxes in the upcoming budget.

Charities are demanding that the Government should focus more on spending money on cash-strapped public services rather than tax cuts.

To paraphrase a well-known commercial, ‘every little hurts’.

Two out of three Irish charities have seen public donations plummet by as much as 10% since the Rehab and Central Remedial Clinic scandals emerged.

Almost two-thirds of Irish charities claim their fundraising has been affected by the negative publicity surrounding Rehab and the CRC.

Nine out of 10 people are less trusting of charities as a direct result of the ongoing Rehab and Central Remedial Clinic scandals — with one in four existing donors cancelling payments since the crisis emerged.

Some of the excess and greed shown by charity chiefs inevitably provoked public outrage.

The Rehab Group is set to cave in to intense political and public pressure and will reveal the complete remuneration package of its CEO, Angela Kerins, following the planned board meeting in four weeks’ time.

Some of the country’s leading charities claim donations have fallen by as much as 40% because of public fears about where the money might end up as a result of the top-up scandal at Central Remedial Clinic.

Half of charities fear public trust in their work has been permanently damaged by the top-ups and pay-offs scandal at the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC).

The Wheel, a resource organisation for charities and voluntary groups, described Section 38 agencies to me as “arms of the State in all but governance”. But shouldn’t all arms of the State be headed by the State? Isn’t governance all important?

All health bodies giving top-ups to senior officials will be hauled before the head of the HSE between now and Christmas to explain how they will “immediately” end the ‘second salaries’ culture.

Almost one third of charities have had to either suspend or cut back on services in the past six months because of funding cuts and a drop in public donations.

People must be heard in the global debate to end poverty and climate change. Ireland has a unique chance to influence a just and sustainable future, if they have their say, says Hans Zomer

I HAVE a friend called Ger.

The Government’s policy of austerity is increasing the risk of causing severe damage to Ireland’s social fabric, according to a group of charities representing people with disabilities and their carers.

A group of seven charity networks and federations are warning that public and social services are beyond sustainable.

For many people it is more Scareview than Saorview, but an army of digital ‘champions’ is taking the fear out of the big digital television switchover in 54 days.

COMMUNITY groups have launched an awareness programme to ensure thousands of TV viewers don’t lose access to their favourite programmes as a result of the scheduled switchover to digital TV in October.

THE future of more than one-third of Irish charities and community groups is under threat due to falling income levels, a survey has found.

More than 30% of charities and community groups in Ireland say they are facing closure, or are unsure about their future survival.

A NATIONAL campaign has been launched to help community and voluntary groups connect with the public through “digital storytelling” on the internet.

NO further funding will be given to a group representing survivors of institutional abuse until its membership proves they can manage public money appropriately, the Health Service Executive has warned.