The Report on the Governance of Charitable Organisations which provides a series of recommendations to the Charities Regulatory Authority was launched yesterday by Galway West TD Sean Kyne.

The report includes recommendations on how the governance of charities should be regulated, making sure that charities in Ireland are governed effectively.

The Fine Gael TD said that volunteers and the charities deserve respect and that they provide vital support to our communities, as do those who sit on boards as charity trustees or who are otherwise active in the sector.

Sean Kyne said at the launch of the report:

“I would like to thank the Charity Regulator for inviting me to launch this report on the Governance of Charitable Organisations.  I would also like to congratulate the consultative panel who framed this report and who brought considerable commitment and a wide berth of expertise to the task.

“It is clear that this expertise in governance, law, finance and charity administration was accompanied by a very practical approach and common-sense attitude.

“And as a consequence, the recommendations of the panel provide proportionate and realistic advice for the governance of charities and support of trustees in their duties.

“There is no doubt that all registered charities should demonstrate a set of basic governance standards in their operations but balanced with this has to be the recognition that any such requirements or standards must be achievable by even the smallest of charities.

“In that context, I welcome the Report’s recommendation of eschewing the regulatory specific approach to governance in favour of the approval of codes and guidelines.

“I agree with the panel’s view that the introduction of additional hard law regulations specific to governance of charities is not appropriate at this time, but rather the accounting and reporting regulations should be the priority.

“Also that there should be a new governance code for charities to facilitate the better administration, management and governance of charitable organisations.  And that the content of the new governance code should be developed in collaboration with the charity sector.

“Such initiatives can only deliver improved outcomes for our society through better focused charities where volunteers, staff, service recipients and all other stakeholders will have a common point of reference for governance standards.

“It is no secret that the confidence of the Irish people in the charity sector has been dented in recent years. The reputation of the sector has been negatively impacted by the nefarious actions of a few.

“We owe it to the charities and the volunteers who work for them to rectify this perception. Guidelines and regulation, such as proposed by this report, are clearly going to be absolutely vital in restoring a sense of integrity to the charity sector

“Proper regulation and guidance of the charity sector will also protect it and our citizens from further exploitation by unscrupulous individuals who have no place in it.

“Volunteers and the charities for whom they work deserve respect and confidence. They provide vital support to our communities. As do those who sit on boards as charity trustees or who are otherwise active in the sector.

“It is very positive, therefore, to note that the consultative panel strongly recommends a wide range of support and development programmes to support prospective and current charity trustees.

“The panel was mandated to provide options for the Charities Regulator to promote compliance by charity trustees with their duties in the direction, control and management of charities.

“Charity trustees work in a voluntary capacity, usually in small charities. They are responsible for ensuring good governance and are often faced with complex decisions.

“It is important that training, guidance and support is available at little or no cost to charity trustees, and that costs be met by the charity rather than individual charity trustees.

“Better oversight of the charities will actually secure the future of the charity sector.

“That’s why I am very pleased to be here today to launch the Report of the Consultative Panel on the Governance of Charitable Organisations.

“The panel’s report and the public consultation clearly indicate that strong guidance is required to underpin the work of the charity sector over the next few years.

“Charities also need protection as well as sensible regulation.  A certain uniformity of practice along with transparency and accountability will sustain and enhance the work of the sector into the future.

“I understand that that the task of the panel was facilitated by the staff of the Charities Regulator and The Institute of Public Administration, through Dr Nicholas Marcoux and I would like to acknowledge those contributions and assistance.

“I would also like to commend the approach of the Chair and the Board of the Charities Regulator as well as its CEO for the hard work and effort put into delivering the Report.

“And I look forward to seeing its implementation and the subsequent benefits to the very deserving Charity Sector and the people who work within it.

Galway West TD Sean Kyne has confirmed funding of €320,000 to support the National Irish Language theatre, An Taibhdearc.

The Fine Gael TD said: “I am delighted to confirm this funding of €320,000 which has been approved by my colleague, Chief Whip and Aire Stait na Gaeltachta, Joe McHugh.

“The funding is being provided under the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht’s Irish Language Support Scheme.

“Galway-based An Taibhdearc plays an essential role in sustaining and promoting Irish Language theatre bringing the language to different audiences, including young people.

“It provides a top class venue for the staging of works and plays by Irish Language writers and playwrights.

“An Taibhdearc first opened in 1928 and this funding will also support the theatre’s programme of events to celebrate its 90th anniversary which includes a parade in the City and events at the Theatre.”

The first annual Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) Colloquium in GMIT was opened today by Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

The day brought together students, agencies, enterprises, further education, policy makers, and the voluntary sector.

Speaking at the Colloquium, Dr Joseph Ryan, Chief Executive of THEA, said: “THEA is now one year in operation and it has been a dynamic time with many changes culminating in the passing into law of the Technological Universities Act 2018 which offers the promise of the creation of new Technological Universities in Ireland.

“These can have a profound and catalytic role in support of their regions and communities.

“As a sector, our members have already demonstrated the impact that an Institute of Technology can have on the lives of the community it serves and on the sustainability and enhancement of the local economy.

“We are delighted to have a range of experienced speakers here today, from industry, politics and academia, with various perspectives who will share in a reflection on the contribution of the technological sector and help us shape how that can best be calibrated to meet future challenges.”

Speaking at the event, Dr Fergal Barry, President of GMIT, said: “We are delighted to host the first annual Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) Colloquium here in GMIT today (10th of May).

“GMIT and the students and region we serve has been a major beneficiary of the reforms within higher education since our founding nearly 50 years ago.

“Our vision is to provide students with a transformative university experience, empowering our graduates to fully contribute to the social, economic and cultural betterment of society.

“We aim to invest in excellent applied learning, teaching and research environments reflecting the real needs of business, enterprise and the professions in our region.

“I want to welcome again the investments of €5M in GMIT’s iHub and €25M in a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Building.

“GMIT student enrolements have increased considerably in recent years to over 7000 enrolements.

“The ongoing reform of our Higher Education Sector led by Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, particularly the passing of the Technological Universities Act, will allow TU Consortia to deepen our engagement with industry and organisations for the people we serve across the region for many years into the future.”

Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “Today’s Colloquium firmly positions the technological higher education sector as the champion of access, opportunity and engagement, forging links across diverse communities, geographies and socio-economic boundaries.

“Government’s commitment to and support of the sector was evidenced by the announcement of the €200m capital funding earlier in the year and it points to an exciting future for the sector as we look towards the establishment of the first technological universities.

“We look forward to continuing our engagement with THEA in civic dialogue around the transformative effect that higher education and engaged institutions have on entire communities.”

Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Anne Rabbitte says she deeply regrets the decision by Apple to withdraw from the Athenry Data Centre project.

Apple announced plans for the Athenry data centre in February 2015, but the project has been mired in objections since Galway County Council first gave approval in December of that year.

The €850m project would have provided 300 construction jobs and 100 full time jobs.

“This decision is a significant loss to the West of Ireland and sends the wrong message to potential investors across the globe. The protracted delays in reaching a planning decision, followed by a long drawn out court process appears to have been the decisive factor in Apple withdrawing from this development,” said Deputy Rabbitte.

“Those jobs and investment will now go elsewhere. Just as worrying is that other companies will look at this experience and could potentially re-evaluate spending money here. For places like the West of Ireland, which struggles to get substantial Foreign Direct Investment, this is particularly important to address.

“In October 2017 I published a Bill to fast track such planning decisions but we are still waiting on the government to come forward with amendments to the planning act. Ireland needs to send out a clear message to foreign direct investors that we are open for business. Planning laws must not deter potential investors from Irish shores.

“The government has to step up to the mark and ensure that we do not lose another opportunity like this on its watch again. There is a 97 acre site now lying idle in Athenry – measures must be undertaken to ensure that this site is put on the IDA priority list.

“Fianna Fáil has put forward constructive proposals to help achieve that and will work with all parties to ensure future investment benefits all parts of the country.”

Things are beginning to look up for the future of technology in Galway.  Recently, the Galway Technology Centre (GTC) and the Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland (CCMI) struck a partnership with Mervue technology centre.

They timed this announcement along with the opening of a Made in Ireland exhibition, which was accompanied by a series of fun retro-styled games.

This exciting partnership stems from the two organisations common goal of encouraging children to build on their interest in technology and innovation. This is an important focus for the GTC, and they’ve held tech talks for children in the past, as shown in a previous Galway Daily report.

This latest collaboration isn’t something new, as one of the past talks saw a guest appearance by Brendan Smith, the co-founder and curator of the CCMI.

As a testament to their mission, they gave tours to Holy Trinity Primary School’s 6th class students, visiting the Mervue branch of Bank of Ireland and the technology companies based in the centre. Afterwards, Smith led a Scratch programming class they all participated in.

It’s endearing to see the partnership take shape as they make the events accessible to young minds.

Irish Tech News spoke to Smith about the recent partnership, and he was very enthusiastic, explaining, “The purpose of the museum is to inspire young people and impart to them that they can start anything here in Ireland.

“We run regular workshops and events for schools and the public. Our partnership with GTC will expand our reach within the wider community.”

This impressive move is certainly empowering young children by making education more accessible. Communication and technology innovation is also very much part of the modern Galway culture.

The presence of smartphones and super computers that can allow children to access all sorts of information now can be put into productive use with the kinds of workshops the CCMI holds for students.

Besides contributing positively to their hometowns, the program has the potential to shape careers and broaden their job opportunities.

In the future, these students could grow up to be leaders in a multitude of professional fields because of the opportunities presented to them.

The workshops will be able to broaden their capacity to formulate new ideas, think analytically, and instill the value of teamwork.

Menlo Coaching describes these qualities as traits of a good leader, as well as problem-solving skills and crisis management. This kind of foundation is an important stepping-stone for anyone who would like to spearhead projects later on in life.

On a much larger scale, access to education is important. CREATE lists a multitude of education’s benefits, including long term improvements in productivity, the reduction of inter-generational cycles of poverty, and gender equality, to name a few. These children will give back to their communities, flourish in their careers, and may solve some of the
world’s problems some day simply by being able to learn. In other words, the GTC-CCMI partnership is very good news for all parties involved.

The partnership between the centre and the museum was started by the late Dr. Chris Coughlan. The announcement of the partnership follows Dr. Coughlan’s passing earlier in April. He was the co-founder and chairperson of the CCMI and a board member of GTC. He strongly believed in the power of making education accessible to students as well.

Smith is continuing his legacy by ensuring that the GTC-CCMI partnership becomes successful and fruitful in the
years to come.

With that, Galway is excited by the prospect of a number of future events.

A new map published by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation shows that Co Galway has the highest beef cow population in the Republic.

The number beef cow population of Galway for 2017 was 103,449, down slightly from 104,669 in 2016.

The federation says that Galway has over 25,000 more beef cows than Co. Mayo – which is the second most highly populated county with a figure of 77,397.

Dublin might lead the way in terms of its human population, but when it comes to cows, it is lagging behind.

County Dublin is the least populated county with a population of just 4,087 beef cows.

Cork has 70,001 and Clare has 72,335.

NUI Galway students scooped four awards at the recent Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Student Achievement Awards Ireland 2018.

The annual Student Achievement Awards Ireland is an opportunity for the student movement in Ireland to recognise the contribution of students to the life of Ireland and the student community.

Bachelor of Science student Clare Austick from Galway City was awarded the Part-Time Officer of the Year Award; Bachelor of Commerce student Nargis Dewji from Tanzania won International Student of the Year; while Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology student Edel Browne from Athenry, Co. Galway, was presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

NUI Galway Students’ Union was presented with the Welfare Campaign of the Year with their sexual health and guidance campaign.

Congratulating the students, NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “University offers students a wonderful opportunity to try new things and develop their potential.

“Each of the NUI Galway winners of the USI Student Achievement Awards has demonstrated this to the full.

“They have shown a tremendous commitment to helping their fellow students, becoming respected student leaders and have benefitted by gaining confidence and life experience which will enrich their future careers.

“I extend warmest congratulations to each of the Awardees and I commend them for the way that they have used the opportunity which the student experience provides in order to help others.”

Forty-two people are waiting on trolleys today at University Hospital  Galway, making it the second most overcrowded hospital in the state.

Nationally, there are 514 people waiting on trolleys.

UHG is the second most overcrowded by a small margin, with 45 on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick.

Today’s figures are not as severe as four weeks ago, when fifty-eight people were on trolleys at UHG, according to figures by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

That figure was more than halved in 24 hours coinciding with the Taoiseach’s visit to Galway.

The Green Party Deputy Leader Catherine Martin TD has come out strongly in support of NUI Galway students today,  who protested the 18% increase in rents at Cúirt na Coiribe.

She joins politicians such as Éamon Ó Cuív TD and Cllr. Mairéad Farrell in pledging her support for the students.

The Spokesperson for Education said today: “The timing and scale of this hike in Cúirt na Coiribe, up to a €1,000 increase, coming as it does right in the middle of exams, has resulted in anxiety and stress for students – leaving them with huge decisions to make in a very short space of time if they want to secure accommodation for September.

“The hike of rents in Cúirt na Coiribe is just another example of rising costs of university and living for young people across the country.

“In the middle of an unprecedented housing crisis, rents across the country are continuing to be entirely unsustainable for young people, both students and non-students. The government needs to take action to ensure greater rights for tenants of all descriptions, and to increase funding to our third-level institutions so that the burden of increased registration fees and other university charges does not fall squarely on students who are already struggling with rising rents.”

Galway West Green Party Candidate Pauline O’Reilly has said that she was “dismayed but not entirely shocked” by the rent hike in what she called “an entirely unregulated sector”.

“We are seeing students in hostels for months on end, students living in cramped conditions and now this opportunistic move by Cúirt na Coiribe and I am fully supporting the Student’s Union protest,” she said.