Statement from Catholic Institute for Deaf People (CIDP)

Statement from Catholic Institute for Deaf People (CIDP), 12 July 2017

The Catholic Institute for Deaf People (CIDP) accepts the findings of the HSE audit for the period 2012-2015 and assures staff and stakeholders that the practices raised by the HSE do not form part of CIDP today and have no place in our future

Geraldine Tallon, who joined CIDP as Chairperson in April 2016 with a clear mandate to overhaul the governance arrangements in CIDP, today fully accepted the findings of a HSE internal audit of CIDP for the 2012-2015 period. She said, “This audit highlights serious governance and financial control deficiencies in the organisation for the period under review.   All of us in CIDP are bitterly disappointed by the findings but all issues identified have been addressed and will not recur.”

She continued, “The HSE had the fullest co-operation of CIDP in the completion of this audit and this will continue to be our policy and practice. We made many  changes in 2016, but,  regrettably, at the end of the year we received the  report from the HSE, our major funder, with significant adverse findings in regard to our  standards of governance and financial administration in the preceding years.   We have given the highest priority to addressing the issues identified, and have made many changes at all levels of our organisation.  In conjunction with  our current  Chief Executive, appointed at the end of 2015 – I am making  a firm commitment to all our  stakeholders and staff that the practices raised by the HSE  do not form  part of CIDP today and have no place in our  future”.

CIDP confirmed today that it had  “advised senior staff referenced in the audit report who are no longer employed by the orgnisation, and who benefited from authorised bonus payments during the 2012-2015 period, to clarify with Revenue that there are no outstanding taxation issues. We have also made direct contact with Revenue.”

CIDP also confirmed that  pay at the top management level has been reduced, and wide use of company credit cards and the purchase of gifts for persons retiring from the organisation as outlined  in the HSE audit  ceased within CIDP prior to the conclusion of the audit and will not recur.

Keith Adams, Chief Executive of CIDP said today, “In recent days we have been briefing our staff and stakeholders on  the serious issues raised in the HSE audit for the 2012-2015 period.  They have been very specifically assured that the issues raised by the HSE have been addressed.  My approach will continue to be one of open engagement with staff and stakeholders.”

The audit period, 2012-2015, covered a period of significant change within CIDP, as the organisation led and facilitated a major re-development of its Cabra property. This has resulted in the provision of a new state of the art facility, Deaf Village Ireland,  with a new office development for a range of representative organisations for Deaf people and a leisure centre with a gym and swimming pool.  CIDP now recognises that  the focus on completing this ambitious project did ‘divert attention from core governance and administration’.

The CIDP board is now entirely focused on ensuring that it fulfills its role in supporting the Deaf community while also operating to the highest standards of governance and accountability at all times.

Chairperson Geraldine Tallon concluded, “The building of Deaf Village Ireland (DVI) has brought a vibrant group of Deaf organisations together in Cabra, creating a community that supports Deaf culture and ethos, and advocates on behalf of Deaf people. Our new fitness centre, trading as Inspire, is a major amenity for the community, as well as the wider Cabra area, and will create an important revenue stream for DVI into the future”

“The past fifteen months has shown me how engaged, energetic and committed our organisation is across its busy agenda. CIDP, through its school and boarding residences, its residence for Deaf and Deaf/Blind adults, and its National Chaplaincy for the Deaf, provides essential services and supports for Deaf children and adults in Dublin and throughout the country. I am determined to ensure that this much valued and needed organisation will learn from the mistakes of the past and will not repeat them as it continues to deliver on key objectives and services.”

For contact: Please email any questions to enquiries@cidp.ie