Oireachtas Committee urges Peter McVerry Trust to rethink decision to delay appearance

The Peter McVerry Trust was last year subject to what it called "a serious cashflow problem".

Members of the Oireachtas Housing Committee have called for the Peter McVerry Trust to appear before it next week.

The charity was last year subject to what it called "a serious cashflow problem", leading to a €15m bailout being agreed by government in November. That money was conditional on the implementation of significant reform and the trust has undertaken to put in place improved budgetary and management processes.

The trust is due to provide a detailed plan for the future by February.

Chief executive Francis Doherty tendered his resignation to the board of directors against the backdrop of a statutory investigation into financial and governance issues at the organisation. Mr Doherty had been the chief executive of the charity since June 2023, taking over from Pat Doyle, who was at the organisation for almost 19 years.

The trust had been invited to address the committee next week, but last Tuesday wrote to politicians to say such a move would be "premature" and that many of the 32 conditions were being acted upon. Independent senator Victor Boyhan, however, called on the charity to reconsider.

“The priority and focus now needs to be on the service users of the McVerry Trust and continuity of its care services for those that need them most,” Senator Boyhan said, adding that he "acknowledged the significant work and personal sacrifice of Fr Peter McVerry", founder of the charity.

“Fr Peter, advocated powerfully for appropriate accommodation, drug and addiction rehabilitations services, and juvenile justice, and that should never be forgotten.

Chief executive Francis Doherty tendered his resignation to the board of directors against the backdrop of a statutory investigation into financial and governance issues at the organisation.

“Public confidence and trust in the charity must be rebuilt, and so I am looking forward to engaging with representatives of the McVerry Trust when they appear before the Oireachtas Housing Committee later this month.

“Concerns about 'potential mismanagement of donor funds', the transfer of 'restricted funds from the charity to a private business', are issues I intend to raise with the McVerry Trust.

"Mr Doherty is on record pointing to 'repeated and long-standing governance failings', these are issues I would also like to pursue with McVerry Trust representative when they appear before the committee.

"The McVerry Trust is one the largest providers of homeless services in the State, with an income last year of about €60 million, the majority of which comes from State funding.

“So, the Oireachtas Committees needs the opportunity to formally engage with the McVerry Trust to safeguard the substantial financial contribution by the taxpayers, if it is to be credible and transparent in targeting homelessness and continuing to fund its operations.”

Mr Boyhan was echoed by Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan, who said that the charity should reconsider its "poor" response thus far.

"It's very important that they agree to come into the committee. They've been in receipt of a lot of public money and there's a lot of questions over the last few months. There's got to be a level of transparency and openness there. 

The response so far has been very poor. There's normally no issue with them attending so it's very unusual for them to decline. I can't think of another organisation doing so.

"It certainly doesn't look good and they should reconsider."

The Charities Regulator in October appointed inspectors to the trust, while the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) stated in September that it had appointed inspectors to conduct “a statutory investigation” of the Peter McVerry Trust.

The trust did not respond to a request for comment.