Numbers of Irish charities no surprise

Your editorial (Sept 15) states: “Who would have believed that there are 7,800 charities in Ireland?”

I would have, and I have known this fact for over five years, and I have endeavoured without any success to bring this issue of unaccounted “charities” funding, which borders on a scandal, to the public’s attention through the mass media and elected officials, without any success.

For the most part we do not have charities in Ireland — we have “charities for profit”, with the majority of “the profit” going to exorbitant salaries of the CEOs and staff who run them.

Charity by definition means the voluntary giving of help to those in need by volunteers. What we have in Ireland, for the most part, should be called “icy charities” or “cottage industries”.

This €6bn taxpayer-supported “industry” needs to be audited annually and, in addition, from my understanding of the present “charities” in existence, over two-thirds could be eliminated by joining those organisations that basically pursue the same objective.

I have tried to get the financial state of several “charities” audited only to be told that I could be sued for libel if I pursue such a goal. Thank you for raising the issue.

Vincent J Lavery

Dalkey

Co Dublin