Income & Expenditure Account – Explanatory Notes
Income
Diocesan Needs:
The Diocesan Needs collection represents the amount levied in 2005 on the 60 parishes of the Diocese towards the running of the Central Administration of the Diocese. It also includes donations from the religious orders in the city. It is by far the major source of Income of the Diocese for this purpose.
In 2005 the new Diocesan Needs levies were applied for the first time and the response from all parishioners of the Diocese has been tremendous. The levies had not been altered for very many years and were put in place to curb the significant deficits that had been sustained in recent years.
Donations & Bequests:
An anonymous donation of €100,000 was received during the year.
Dividend Income:
There has been a huge upturn in Dividend Income for the year. This particular investment had yielded no return in 2002/2003 and was minimal in 2004. There is no certainty that this level of dividend income will be sustained.
Student Priest Collection:
This represents the amount collected specifically for a fund for the education and formation of Clerical Students.
Expenditure
Post Graduate Education & Welfare:
This represents for the most part fees, expenses and allowances towards priests of the Diocese engaged in post-graduate studies. All ongoing renewal courses and in-service training for priests of the Diocese are subsidised by this fund.
Student Education Fees:
This represents seminary fees towards the education of clerical students for the Diocese. Other expenditure in relation to the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and religious life is also represented in this cost.
Pastoral Care:
This account has been established to fund individual pastoral care needs and pastoral initiatives as they arise.
Office Administration:
In 2005 this includes the salaries of the Diocesan Secretary, 3 full time employees at the Diocesan Office and the salaries of 2 full time Primary School Religious Education Diocesan Advisors. Other categories of expense included in this cost are:-
- Pension Expense
- Travel
- Office Supplies
- Website Support
- Postage, Stationery & Telephone
- Donations & Subscriptions
Facility Costs:
This includes the following costs related to the building maintenance costs of the Diocesan Office. These costs include the following categories of expense:-
- Insurance
- Repairs & Maintenance
- Light & Heat
- Rates
- Refuse Collection
- Security
- Office Cleaning
The higher costs in 2004 relate primarily to a major repair to the parapet wall at 66 O’Connell Street.
External Levies:
Regional Marriage Tribunal
This represents the donation from the Diocese towards the work of the Tribunal offices in Cork and at national level to assist those applying for annulments. The Diocese is obligated to pay the amount levied by the Marriage Tribunal.
Holy See Expenses
This is the annual contribution of the Diocese towards Holy See Expenses
National Episcopal Conference
This represents the total donation from the Diocese towards the working of 19 Commissions of the Bishops Conference at national level and other expenses incurred by this national body working on behalf of the Church. Among the Commissions which work to serve the Church at national level are: Justice & Peace, Communications, Social Welfare, Pastoral, Liturgy, Emigrants, Ecumenism, Child Protection and Education. The Diocese is obligated to pay the amount levied by the Bishops Conference each year.
Cura:
This represents the donation from the Diocese towards the work of CURA at national and regional level in providing free services of support information and counselling for anyone facing a crisis pregnancy.
Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre Subvention:
This relates to the subvention amount which the Diocese made in 2005 towards the running costs of the Pastoral Centre. The Pastoral Centre prepares accounts as a separate entity and it is the focal point for many pastoral care courses in the Diocese.
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Other Comments
- It is important to note that these Accounts represent only the Income & Expenditure of the Central Administration of The Diocese and do not fully reflect the generosity of the parishioners throughout the Diocese of Limerick to the Church.
- The normal collection taken up at Churches on weekends goes directly to the Parish for essential running costs at local level. These costs would include the upkeep of Churches, halls, parochial houses, schools and general administration.
- In the course of a year other special collections are taken up for various needs at the level of the Diocese and the wider Church. Among these collections are the following which are passed on directly to the particular need. These Parish collections are NOT included in the 2005 accounts.
- Trocaire – Lenten Campaign €252,742
- Trocaire – Tsunami Appeal €633,930
- Peter’s Pence €18,552
- Propagation of the Faith €64,445
- Holy Places €24,243
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