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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Peter McVerry Trust conflict concerns

Summary

Deputy Nash raised serious conflict-of-interest and governance concerns about the Peter McVerry Trust and wider homelessness policy. The Minister of State said reviews were ongoing and he would relay the issues to the Housing Minister.

There is a deeply concerning report in The Irish Times today by Jack Power about the Peter McVerry Trust. It outlines that in 2018 the trust bought nine apartments in Birr, County Offaly, which had been developed by the then auditor of the charity.

This raises very serious and obvious conflict-of-interest concerns. The level of homelessness has exploded under Fianna Fáil's watch by nearly 50% since July 2020. The State will spend over €240 million on homelessness services next year. Vital public services have been outsourced to homelessness charity corporates. What is emerging are serious governance issues in the Peter McVerry Trust. Two investigations are under way, one by the Charities Regulator, another by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority. I do not expect that the Minister will comment on those but he can answer the following. Will the Government bail out the trust with emergency funding? Has a decision been made on that? How large is the bailout being sought by the trust? Will it be €5 million or more? Importantly, does the Government have concerns about funding or other governance issues in some of the other approved housing bodies?

Comment on this
Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Fine Gael

I will bring Deputy Nash's concerns to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Deputy Nash is fully aware that reviews are ongoing in terms of the Peter McVerry Trust, so it would be inappropriate to comment publicly on the issue, but the matters he raises are very serious and I will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.

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