Senator calls on McVerry Trust to appear before Oireachtas Housing Committee

Independent Senator Victor Boyhan has called on the McVerry Trust to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, amid investigations by regulatory authorities into issues around the finances and governance of the trust.

An invitation to the housing charity to appear before the committee was extended to January 16, but last week the McVerry Trust said it’s not in a position to face questions.

Helen Martin, chief executive of the Charities Regulator, is investigating concerns around corporate governance and finances.

The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA), which regulates non-profit housing bodies, is also conducting a statutory investigation into financial issues at the charity.

The McVerry Trust is receiving emergency funding from the exchequer subject to 32 conditions; it is one of the largest providers of homeless services in the state, with an income last year of about €60 million, most of which comes from state funding.

Senator Victor Boyhan, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Local Government, acknowledged the significant work and personal sacrifice that Fr Peter McVerry, founder of the charity, had given to tackling homelessness and the needs of young people in the streets, particularly in the city of Dublin.

The Senator said he believed it would be in the charity’s best interest to appear before the committee to ensure mistakes are not repeated in future and to help rebuild public trust in the organisation.

“When the charity’s chief executive, Francis Doherty resigned, he claimed the board had made his position ‘untenable’,” Senatir Boyhan said.

“It is important that we can ensure that the McVerry Trust continues to do great work.

“As a member of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, I would be very keen to hear from Mr Doherty precisely on the issues involved.”

Mr Doherty, who took over as head of the trust in June 2023, raised concerns about the potential mismanagement of donations by the homeless charity, and repeated and long-standing governance failings over several years.

In June, he told reporters that this issue was being looked into.

Findings from an independent review by auditors at PwC indicated financial problems had arisen over a number of years.

“These are the issues I would also like to pursue with McVerry Trust representatives when they appear before the committee,” Senator Boyhan added.

“I am looking forward to engaging with representatives of the McVerry Trust when they appear before the Oireachtas Housing Committee later this month.

“The priority and focus now need to be on the service users of the McVerry Trust and the continuity of its care services for those that need them most.

“Fr Peter advocated powerfully for appropriate accommodation, drug and addiction rehabilitation services and juvenile justice, and that should never be forgotten, and that legacy must continue.

“So, the Oireachtas Committees needs the opportunity to formally engage with the McVerry Trust to safeguard the substantial financial contribution by the taxpayers if it is to be credible and transparent in targeting homelessness and continuing to fund its operations.”