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THIS MORNING SEES the launch of a new database of Ireland’s non-profit organisations (NPOs), one which could see a heightened level of accountability seen in the likes of charities and educational institutions here.
Benefacts, which you can access here, is a free online information portal containing data on all 18,600 of Ireland’s NPOs.
Benefacts itself is a non-profit company, established in 2014 to promote transparency and accessibility for Irish NPOs.
It’s an online tool that has been two years in the making, and it’s very impressive indeed.
Given the controversy seen in recent years over the likes of remuneration of top executives at Irish charities, the benefits of Benefacts towards accountability are obvious. However, while transparency is a very-welcome side effect, Benefacts is more about creating accessibility to a sector that managing director Patricia Quinn describes as having been “hidden in plain view”.
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Crucially, the information contained within the database is not provided by the NPOs themselves, but rather is accumulated from regulatory submissions to the likes of the Revenue Commissioners, the charity regulator and the companies registration office.
The kind of data that can be accessed includes:
All of it is extractable, while the site itself is very simple to navigate. It can be searched right now, although the launch of the sector-search tool won’t go live until the official launch this morning at 10am.
Basically, while exceptionally useful for someone who’s in the market for setting up a non-profit of their own, it’s also a data lover or journalist’s dream.
“A lot of work has gone into this,” says Quinn. “We’ve had great people working on it and it shows”.
We present the maximum amount of available data in a neutral and impartial way, to support better-informed decisions, to help build public trust, and reduce the cost of doing business with government.
We should stress this is information that the public could already access – however not in such an easy, streamlined fashion.
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One noteworthy omission is the lack of executive salary information etc, although that is something that Quinn says may well change:
“At present that information isn’t published because too few non-profits disclose it in their audited financial statements,” she says.
That’s likely to change as nonprofits are required to report to new standards this year. Once it’s reported, we will collect and re-present the data.
At present there are more than 108,000 people employed in NPOs in Ireland, which turn over more than €7 billion in revenue each year.
Benefacts form is based on a similar project in the US called Guidestar.
“It’s free to use, like Guidestar, and we’d like to keep it that way,” says Quinn.
Public transparency is a fundamental part of our mission.
Crucially, those non-profits who disclose less information regarding their workings can be pinpointed within Benefacts.
“We have started to get calls from people who say they’re embarrassed that their data isn’t up to scratch on our site,” says Quinn.
They want to know if there’s anything they can do about that.
Everything we have is public knowledge, it’s just far more accessible now.
We see ourselves as stewards of this data, and we’re very conscious of our responsibilities as such.
One thing is for sure, Benefacts is set to be an invaluable tool for people from all walks of life going forward.
You can visit the Benefacts site here. All elements of the site will officially go live from 10am this morning.
There are hundreds of teachers who are not on full hours who struggle on less than the welfare class and then don’t get paid during the summer because their contacts don’t run during the summer. At least they work during the summer contributing something positive to the community and the state unlike people who are collecting every state benefit they can get their hands on (I’m not including people who genuinely want to work in this)
That’s a real conquer and divide statement. Unemployed people have nothing to do with the way that teachers are treated by this government.
I don’t see why teachers are being constantly targeted. They, along with Gardai and nurses, had lower wages than most private sector workers during the boom, and definitely did not take out huge loans like so many private sector workers because they knew they could never pay them back. Obviously I’m not saying every private sector worker took out huge loans but teachers and nurses definitely can’t be blamed for the recession, unlike some of their private sector counterparts.
So you have been fooled with this conquer and divide stuff too. Make the governments job easier to pick off one group at a time by beleaving that. The gov would love everybody to believe that some other class of worker caused the recession. The blame is at the bankers door aided by the last two governments
What’s that conquer and divide sh1te? All I’m saying is that, for people who had no hand in causing the banking collapse, teachers, nurses etc are getting the most criticism.
There are 100s of teachers unemployed or on very little hours!! teachers pay is actually spread out over the 12 months if u were a sub teacher who didn’t get paid during the summer your hourly rate is higher during d school year. People who say negative comments about teachers should really try it for a week and I can guarantee you wouldn’t be saying these comments!
Rodrigo- if I were you I’d keep your children at home and home school them – clearly teachers are just glorified babysitters to you. By the sounds of things you know it all!! Degrading an entire profession with the sweeping statement of ‘part-time’ workers!
Sharon. I’m only calling it as I see it. 20 hours per week is only half of the 40 I work, then when you consider the 4 or 5 months holidays, it probably only becomes 14 or 15 hours per week. So you can imagine how frustrating it is, when your child comes home and tells you his or her teacher didn’t turn up once again. I’m talking to other parents, and they’re as frustrated as I am.
Where did you pluck 20 hours a week from? If you are trying to prove a point don’t make up BS to back it up….
Rodrigo you work 40 hours per week?
Secondary teacher = 22 hours class contact time
10 hours prep work per week before class and after class
8 hours corrections per week at home
2 hours per week supervising pupils
8 hours per week coaching and Saturday matches free of charge.
That’s 50 hours per week. Lucky you with your 40 hour week. :)
oh yeah I can see all the teachers diving on those positions! They won’t want to give up 2-3 months pay sitting at home doing nothing, I think jobs like that should be compulsory.
I don’t.
Teachers have a big responsibility with students & a lot of them are underpaid. The summer break is their just reward.
Why is it most good news story’s open with someone moaning?
Jesus….
Ssshhh Steve no tears
how is it a good news story???? its 280 jobs for people currently EMPLOYED, not for people desperate to find a job!
Many teachers are not employed , and plenty more are subbing and will receive no summer pay.
Show me a teacher that’s underpaid, and I’ll show you a Government TD that doesn’t tell barefaced lies.
You idiot, walk into any school and there are teachers who have to work a second job to make ends meet.
Not all teachers get paid for the Summer. Some, in particular newly qualified teachers are on short term contracts or casually subbing & so have to find other means of employment once school finishes.
I’m glad you have stereotyped 60,000 teachers there. I really enjoy reading people like you degrade the entire profession in one ill informed comment, so go on, what is it? Didn’t get enough points yourself to do it? Or was there not enough prestige in teaching relative to what career path you choose? Go enlighten me…
I honestly don’t see any teacher I know who has a full time job even entertaining the notion of applying for these jobs. It would be an insult to the newly qualified teachers who need them as they do not get paid for the summer.
@elaine homan – these camps provide jobs for a lot of young teachers who were unable to secure a position during the school year while also offering them some valuable experience. It is these unemployed teachers who are most likely to apply for these jobs therefore marking this a very good news story as they will once again be employed fully, even if it is just for the summer. There is no need to begrudge people a chance to work!
Damn right Elaine and why should they. It’s not a secret society, it’s open to anyone who is willing to spend 4/5 years in University. When you applied for your job and the employer said “oh by the way you will have decent summer holidays” are you going to say oh I don’t want the job so!!!!! Yeah pull the other one. Jobs have perks. Now go flip a burger.
My son had an alcoholic gambler of a maths teacher right through secondary.
When Cheltenham was on she was out.
When punchestown was on the same. I could smell the drink from her at the parents meetings and yet that so called teacher is still working. Everyone in the class had to get grinds to help them through their leaving cert and a lot failed. Several complaints were made about her and directly at her but she was as arrogant and smug as possible because she knew no matter what she could not be fired. This my friends is the real issue because she is one of many sub par teachers who will never come under scrutiny. I do feel very sorry for the new teachers trying to get a foot in the door they are a different breed altogether. They want to teach they want to work but they will be sidelined by the already installed and untouchable sect that are in place now.
Sshhh you can’t say that here all the teachers will be out for your blood.
So ALL established teachers are rotten teachers (alcoholic gamblers – I’m sure a few of the gamblers that took this country down enjoyed an alcoholics share of booze) but all the new young teachers are ALL amazing teachers. This ridiculous stereotyping won’t help anyone.
Why aren’t these jobs offered to teachers who have no jobs? Seems a bit unfair if a teacher who is already been paid for 3 mths holiday manages to monopolise another job over the summer. Many Irish teachers double up teaching in the Gealtacht also. I agree its not creating new jobs just re employing teachers who are already been paid. Nice bonus if you can get it. Secondary school teachers have a total of almost 130 days of school. That’s just over four months a year. Holidays at all the right time. I get 10 days! But hey they deserve it font they?!
Bitter much?
Well they teach students, so maybe ask the students to cut their holidays down to 10 days? Good luck with that.
Secondary teachers work 163 days. Primary teachers work 183. Most jobs work 230. Yes, still less than most jobs but please don’t pull numbers out of nowhere.
I wouldn’t mind only everyone forgets that they don’t actually get paid for the holidays; they get paid for their working hours and they pay is spread out over the whole year.
Ah yeah give the teachers summer jobs when they already get paid for been off. That’s so unfair just because they work with children and have clearance. There’s plenty of adults out there that would be prefect for that work. Bad bad bad
Haha. Prefect
When one considers that Enda Kenny and many other TD’s are teachers, is it any wonder that a lot of people have a very low opinion of that particular set. There’s not a week goes bye when at least one of my children has their class split up because their teacher hasn’t showed up. Usually on a Monday, I might add. I mean they’re basically part-time workers. You’d think they could at least turn up for the few hours that they’re actually required for.
Maybe if parents stop treating schools like crèches and keep their kids home when they get sick then teachers wouldn’t be absent!
And sure when they fail they can become politicians. .. maybe even taoiseach! !:) (My own brother is doing his h dip to be a teacher now btw so no need for the red thumbs)
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