Sir, – The article "Irish charity sector is being drained by duplication" (Analysis, July 11th) makes a number of unjustifiable comments.
The article alleges “lots of duplication”. Charities deliver specific, niche and complementary services on a range of areas. They may draw on different sources of income, eg State, public donation, religious or international funding. The State, for instance, funds a number of “duplicating” charities to deliver health services that the State itself is either unwilling to provide or where it regards charity service provision as more cost-effective and delivery-effective.
Charities additionally involve large numbers of people who contribute hugely on a purely voluntary basis. In fact, many “duplicating” charities involve essentially volunteer activity only.
The maximum amount of collaboration and co-operation among charities, including mergers, is to be encouraged, where appropriate. But random slashing of the number of charities may be no more appropriate than proposing a merger of The Irish Times, Irish Independent and Irish Examiner.
The article states that “key staff are well looked after”. That is not a fair reflection of the situation.
Many charity staff at all levels choose to earn less than they could elsewhere because of their absolute commitment to the cause. Exceptions are easy to highlight, but do not reflect the overwhelming reality.
Charities with significant turnover and employee numbers must and should employ adequately trained administration, accounting and HR personnel to ensure full effectiveness and accountability.
Counselling, service delivery managers and other specialists must be fully qualified, trained and paid salaries commensurate with their qualifications to ensure that the best possible service is guaranteed to often very vulnerable people.
Recent issues highlighted in the media affect a very small number of charities and relate almost exclusively to HSE funding and a startling and ongoing failure of HSE governance.
The new Charities Regulatory Authority, whose functions are now being rolled out, will provide additional reassurance and guarantees on governance standards.
We urge the public to continue to support and donate to charities, to allow them to maintain essential services to what are often the most vulnerable and neglected members and groups in society. – Yours, etc,
SHEILA NORDON,
Director,
ICTR,
Merrion Square,
Dublin 2;
LUCY MASTERSON,
Chief Executive,
Fundraising Ireland,
Fitzwilliam Square East,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – As someone involved in a charity that works in suicide prevention, I am glad to say that I have received some excellent training from the HSE and no funding from them.
In the normal meaning of the word, charity is about voluntarily giving one’s time to help others. We do it for people rather than for money. I personally know some who have been persuaded not to commit suicide simply because there were people who took the time to listen to them and offer them support. It’s that simple.
And it’s about engaging in human life rather than feeling a need to publish scientific papers to prove that we have helped the people we have freely given our time to help. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS O’CALLAGHAN,
Carlow.