Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Peter McVerry Trust to receive €4 million this week in first tranche of emergency Govt funding

It was confirmed on Tuesday that the Government is to provide up to €15 million in funding to the charity.

THE PETER MCVERRY Trust will receive approximately €4 million in the first tranche of emergency funding from the Government to ensure the organisation can continue to provide its services, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has confirmed. 

It was confirmed on Tuesday that the Government is to provide up to €15 million in funding to the charity. 

It comes after the housing charity found itself in significant financial difficulties this autumn.

The funding is being provided on the condition of significant reform within the charity.

The Peter McVerry Trust has given a commitment that improved management and budgetary processes are being put in place. 

The funding, which was secured by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien on an exceptional basis, will be provided monthly between December and March.

Speaking to reporters today, O’Brien said the first phase of that payment will be made, later this week the Minister said.

He confirmed the first tranche of funding is approximately €4 million. 

“My priority is the service users, is the hundreds of people who are assisted by the Peter McVerry Trust every single day,” 

The Minister said the Government has “full oversight” of what is happening at the charity. 

“There’s investigations in place … there will be reorganisation and restructuring,” he said. 

“Those payments are made on behalf of the taxpayer to support the services, so there are conditions attached, which at this stage I can’t go through because I am writing to the Trust today outlining that.” 

When asked if there needs to be any change at board level, McGrath said: “We’re not at that stage yet. We’ve a full review underway and we have external consultants in the Peter McVery Trust at the moment.” 

The Peter McVerry Trust is due to provide a detailed plan for the future by February next year, a Government spokeswoman said earlier this week. 

In August, the charity said it was experiencing cashflow pressures that were “more acute than would traditionally be the case”, even allowing for the summer period.

In October, its chief executive Francis Doherty resigned amid the controversy.

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.

Inspectors were appointed by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority to the Peter McVerry Trust and the charity was engaging with them.

The Department of Housing, which normally does not fund any homeless service directly, provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services.

With reporting by Jane Matthews and Press Association

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
22 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Murphy
    Favourite Ryan Murphy
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:11 PM

    Half decent weather!

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michelle McMahon
    Favourite Michelle McMahon
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:11 PM

    Taking the pins out of the new school shirts. Discovering plastic copy covers. Wrapping the school books with wall paper, taping it up and then realising the pattern is all crooked.

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry
    Favourite Barry
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:35 PM

    rose of tralee, always hated the bloody thing and to me it always signaled the end of the summer and back to school

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Casey
    Favourite Liam Casey
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:10 PM

    Blackberries growing on the side of the road. Always new it was nearly time to go back to school when they started growing.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nicola Monaghan
    Favourite Nicola Monaghan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:12 PM

    The weather getting better. The sun always seemed to come out within 10 minutes of sitting down in the classroom on the first day back!

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Compare Travel . ie
    Favourite Compare Travel . ie
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:09 PM

    For me it would have to be porridge and Ready Brek!

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Conway
    Favourite Ian Conway
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:48 PM

    Traffic.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barra Ó Murchú
    Favourite Barra Ó Murchú
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:29 PM

    Glenroe…for me it was that awful show on tv3 heartbeat…the definition of Sunday night..yuck!

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn Tiernan
    Favourite Éamonn Tiernan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 8:41 PM

    The Oxford mathematical drawing set!!

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ruairi Mc Caul
    Favourite Ruairi Mc Caul
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 7:40 PM

    A clean school bag.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute macafee security
    Favourite macafee security
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 9:36 PM

    the evenings getting darker and even the word September……

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nun on Yokes
    Favourite Nun on Yokes
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 6:23 PM

    The beginning of hand cramps from school rules.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry O'Sullivan
    Favourite Barry O'Sullivan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 7:40 PM

    Roadworks.

    Always wait till school starts up again before the roadworks start aswell

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Boy Russell
    Favourite Boy Russell
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:00 PM

    Watching Where in the world with Teresa Lowe, followed by Glenroe, and awoken by the big breakfast theme tune.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neil McAuley
    Favourite Neil McAuley
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 7:07 PM

    All Ireland hurling final – it was nearly always on the day before first day of term

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Scott
    Favourite Roy Scott
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 8:43 PM

    Me mudder saying I’ll soon have you back in school so get out yer bag and I’ll give it a wipe, this was a stomach Churner for sure .

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek
    Favourite Derek
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:43 PM

    Stupid traffic in the morning and having to now leave for work 15 mins earlier again due to all the mammy’s dropping off their little darlings. 15 minutes, I shall miss you in bed.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciara Woodfull Dwyer
    Favourite Ciara Woodfull Dwyer
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:13 PM

    Sandwich spread sandwiches wrapped in Brennans bread paper. And of course the ubiquitous copies wrapped in wallpaper…the more flocked the better!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ribbons
    Favourite ribbons
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 9:50 PM

    Washing out the pencil case and getting new stationary and copies!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shaunagh Ginty
    Favourite Shaunagh Ginty
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:55 PM

    When I was in primary school it was Glenroe being back and then when I hit secondary, London’s Burning…. As soon as both where over it was bed time and the ‘oh crap I’ve no homework done’ feeling

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute anita o'sullivan
    Favourite anita o'sullivan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 7:34 PM

    For me it the Minute Puck Fair ended. Growing up there my whole life and still to this day, I always think , thats it now the summer is over and back to school.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy
    Favourite Tommy
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2012, 8:29 PM

    The sense of tension and anxiety in the air, from fellow students of course.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ring
    Favourite Paddy Ring
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2012, 7:33 AM

    Not being allowed to wear sandals anymore and instead having to wear big heavy black shoes with long grey socks.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Ward
    Favourite Jane Ward
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2012, 10:12 AM

    In Primary School we all kept our books on our desks in those blue plastic boxes they display mushrooms in in Tesco. I’ll always remember going early to get mine before there was a rush on them.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dhakina's Sword
    Favourite Dhakina's Sword
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2012, 1:49 AM

    Uggy, the teacher who fought in the Vietnam war and didn’t receive any counselling. As far as I know, he still has my teachers copy of Shakespeare’s Henry the eight. The terror in his eyes is something I’ll never forget. I wish him well.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Murdoch
    Favourite Simon Murdoch
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:02 AM

    the smell of a new school book.. school books have a smell.. you know it

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds