Minister extends charity deadline

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.

Charity representative group The Wheel made the accusation after Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she has been forced to extend its sign-up deadline by 12 months because just 200 out of 4,000 charities have complied to date.

As part of moves announced last year in the wake of the Central Remedial Clinic and Rehab charity top-ups scandals, the Department of Justice established the Charities Regulatory Authority to oversee the sector.