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	A new regulator has already received two dozen complaints about charities, but says it does not yet have the powers or resources to investigate them.</p>
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	The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) revealed 24 complaints had been made to it about the operation of various charities since it was set up last October.</p>
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	However, it told the Irish Independent it was not yet resourced to launch inquiries - and does not know when it will be given the power to do so.</p>
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	It said that all it could do at this stage was log the complaints received.</p>
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	The long-awaited regulator was set up by the Government amid mounting concern over transparency in the charitable sector.</p>
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	These concerns were exacerbated by the revelations of &quot;top-ups&quot; at disability organisations, such as the Central Remedial Clinic, and high salaries and bonuses at the Rehab Group.</p>
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	In a statement, the regulator - which is headed up by former Department of Justice official &Uacute;na N&iacute; Dhubhghaill - explained it was not yet operating a full service.</p>
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	It is currently focussed on compiling a register of charities and now has registration details for 8,500 organisations.</p>
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	Charities have been given a deadline of April 16 to register, with the regulator warning of stiff penalties for those which don&#39;t.</p>
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	The Charities Act allows for fines of up to &euro;300,000 and jail terms for serious contraventions.</p>
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	The regulator also said it was seeking a range of information from registered charities, which it plans to publish. This includes details of the activities and beneficiaries of the charity, gross income, expenditure, and the identities of trustees and directors.</p>
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	However, it is intended that from the autumn an even more comprehensive set of annual returns will be published.</p>
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	While the exact level of information which will be required has yet to decided, it is expected to be along the lines of the SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) standard used in Britain.</p>
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	This includes requirements to disclose salaries in bands.</p>
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	However, the regulator said no date had yet been identified for when it would be in a position to begin investigating complaints against charities.</p>
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	&quot;The current focus of the CRA is on the development of the register of charities, which underpins the new system of charity regulation,&quot; the statement said. &quot;Once the current work has been advanced sufficiently, the CRA will be focussing on active monitoring and investigative work.&quot;</p>
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	The regulator said that when it was fully operational it would primarily consider complaints where there is the potential for serious abuse of a charity, its assets, or its beneficiaries.</p>
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	However, it will not become involved in internal disagreements, employment or unfair dismissals issues, or contracts and legal actions involving charities.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/regulator-powerless-to-probe-criticised-charities-30924656.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/regulator-powerless-to-probe-criticised-charities-30924656.html</a></p>
