Press Release
Carmichael Centre will close on July 9th

Carmichael Centre, home to 45 charitable organisations on North Brunswick Street, is set to close due to the lack of Government funding. Last week, letters were issued by the Board of Directors to all resident groups and the Centre's staff was issued with redundancy notices.

The services provided by Carmichael Centre to resident groups and 350 other organisations across the sector include:
· Nationwide management training programme for the community and voluntary sector
· Support to organisations in such areas as legal responsibilities, governance, recruitment and employment, fundraising, policy development and accountability and compliance
· General clerical and administrative services
· Expert representation on policy, regulation and legislation
· Payroll and accounting services
· IT Support and consultancy

Kate O'Sullivan, CEO of Carmichael Centre, said today, "We are in crisis financially as we have not benefited from Government grants as expected. A commitment from a major US philanthropic foundation came to an end in September 2003, and for the past 9 months we have been in consultation with the Departments of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs (CRAGA) and Health & Children. We have sought multi-annual core funding of €150,000 from each of these two departments in order to survive. Up to the end of last week nothing was forthcoming. We are technically insolvent and, in order to fulfil our legal obligations, have had to issue closure notices."

Annemarie Hogan, Chairperson of the Board of the Directors, states "At the end of last year, we received an emergency grant of €75,000 from CRAGA to keep the Centre going until a more permanent funding arrangement could be put in place. In the past weeks we have had a positive indication from the Department of CRAGA that some support would be possible and in recent days we have had a strong indication from the Department of Health and Children that they would provide €150,000 in multi-annual core funding. We need confirmation that this funding will be made available as a matter of urgency."

Carmichael Centre, as Ireland's first, largest and busiest centre for voluntary groups, is fully entitled to the support of Government. We are aware of some comments from Minister Noel Ahern in the past 24 hours, which are extremely disappointing. We have endeavoured to communicate with his Department for almost a year - in search of core funding, which is what we need to survive. We appreciate all CRAGA has done in the past. However, they have not addressed the core funding issue, which is central to our present crisis. Either the Government wants the Carmichael Centre to survive or they do not, and if they do they must assist us as a matter of urgency.

The Centre raises significant funding independently, by charging our service users at appropriate subsidised rates and through fundraising. "We are asking the Government to bridge the gap with a contribution to our core funding needs", said Ms. Hogan. "We do not want to make 45 charitable organisations homeless and leave their client groups without services, nor do we want to make our staff redundant."

With Government regulation of charities imminent, Ireland's only support service to small charities will be extinct if this Centre closes its doors on July 9th.

Even at this late stage the Government must intervene.

Further information
Kate O'Sullivan, CEO 087-2255487

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