THERE are too many charities and not enough justice in the country, according to the Mayor of Limerick, Alderman Jim Kemmy TD, who is also chairman of the Labour Parliamentary Party. He was speaking yesterday at the launching of Help Foundation Trust, which is a grouping of local organisations.
Mr Kemmy said last year the Revenue Commissioners received 11,712 applications for tax relief by charitable organisations. Tax exemption was granted to 7,000 of these, but no figures were available for the number of charities that did not apply to the commissioners.
He said decisions are based on a case from 1894. It was clear reform was needed to take account of social, financial and taxation changes over the past century.
Mr Kemmy said it was clear there was a great deal of duplication and overlapping in the maze of charities, including Third World charities, of which there were 12.
The Costello Committee in 1990 had presented a report recommending, among other measures, the establishment of a national charities register, but no legislative action had been taken to implement the recommendations. He welcomed the Government decision to set up a small working party to prepare legislation on the establishment and operation of charities.
He hoped that the Help Foundation Trust would work towards co ordinating, streamlining and - where practicable - merging charitable organisations in Limerick.