3) Good Shepherd Sisters Response to the request from the Government following the Ryan Report. 

Introduction

As Good Shepherd Sisters we find the Ryan Report very disturbing and distressing and reiterate our apology to anyone who experienced hurt or pain while in our care. We want to move forward with the Church and Government along the journey of healing and reconciliation. During our two meetings with the Taoiseach and Government Ministers in June and July 2009, we were asked to submit a Statement of our Finance to a Panel set up by the Government. On July 20^th we submitted to the Department of the Taoiseach the accounts and information requested and met with the Government Assessment Panel on 28^th Sept.2009 when the details were discussed and clarifications given.  We have now put the details of our Financial Affairs on Public Record through our website. 

 We are an International Catholic Congregation of Women Religious. Some of    us are Apostolic Sisters, that is, we work in a variety of areas of social and     community service. Others are Contemplative Sisters who pray for all those    in need. Some of us spend our lives working in the country of our birth while  others feel called to mission overseas and serve in many countries around  the world. 

Membership of Congregation in Ireland

Of the 127 members of the Congregation in Ireland, 52 are based in Northern Ireland. 13 of the Sisters in Northern Ireland are Contemplative Sisters. 70% of the Sisters are aged over 70 years. .

Mission of Good Shepherd in Ireland at this Time 

Community Social Care (mainly social housing) Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

Outreach to women in prostitution and trafficked women.

Residential care for homeless families and those experiencing domestic violence.

Addiction counselling, addiction aftercare and counselling services. 

General parish ministry, counselling, chaplaincy, prison visitation work. 

Spirituality centre: family therapy, art therapy, spiritual direction and retreats. 

Youth ministry: development education and the provision of overseas volunteering  

experiences. 

Social Justice Ministry: identifying the causes & consequences of poverty inequality

& social exclusion.      

Mission outside Ireland 

5 Good Shepherd Sisters work in Ethiopia.

3 Sisters work in the Good Shepherd Generalate in Rome. 

1 Sister works in the Justice and Peace Office at the United Nations in New York.  

Property 

The value of the Congregation’s property is estimated at € 13.4 Million broken down as follows:

                                                                              M

Administration / Residential                      €1.7          (Note 1) 

Sheltered Accommodation                       €4.3          (Note 2) 

Convent / Residential (NI)                          €3.0          (Note 3) 

Direct Mission  ( R.O.I.)                               €0.9           (Note 4) 

Direct Mission   ( N.I.)                                  €1.0           (Note 4) 

 

Unoccupied and Unsold                           €2.5           (Note 5)

                                                                   ____                                                            

                                                                   €13.4

Note 1  

Administration and Residential 

These comprise 3 properties, 2 in Dublin and 1 in Cork. One of the properties in Dublin houses the Provincial Administration and provides accommodation for visiting Sisters and meetings.The other property houses the Sisters engaged in  Outreach to Women in Prostitution and Trafficked Women and other ministries.The property in Cork is a Residential/Ministry, Prayer Centre, and Administrative Office. 

Note 2 

Sheltered Housing --- Cork, Limerick and Waterford

The Good Shepherd Congregation was an approved body in terms of the Housing Act 1988 which authorised the provision by non-profit and voluntary organisations of housing accommodation for disadvantaged persons.  Disadvantaged persons under the Act were defined in a broad way  -- elderly persons eligible for housing or institutional care at public expense, homeless people, handicapped people, persons who are victims of family violence and desertion and single parents. Under the Housing Act 1992, mortgages were granted by the Local Authorities to enable housing units to be built on land owned  - in the case of Good Shepherd - in Cork, Limerick and Waterford. The Good Shepherd congregation has fully met all the conditions in respect of the mortgages. Due to the age profile of the Sisters, more and more external professional help has had to be employed in the care of the people in the sheltered housing units. The mortgage arrangements conclude in 2014. In anticipation of this and to ensure that the original objectives of the sheltered units are continued into the future, discussions with collaborative organisations have and continue to take place.  The age profile of our Sisters, the increasing needs of many of the people in our care, (some now very elderly,) make such linkages essential. Of more concern is the continuance of the provision of housing and other support services now being provided. The need which existed 20 years ago in respect of housing and other services for disadvantaged people, which resulted in the provision of sheltered housing as was developed by our congregation and the Local Authorities has not diminished. Just under 60 of the people being provided with sheltered accommodation in Cork, Limerick and Waterford are women who have been in our long-term care and it is our desire that they receive loving and quality care at all times. 

Note 3

These two properties in Northern Ireland are Residential / Convents occupied by 34 Sisters.  The 13 Contemplative sisters live in one of these properties.

Note 4

 These properties, in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland are located in the areas of mission in Limerick, Galway, Derry and Belfast.  The general ministries of these missions have been set out above, mainly centred on Outreach to women. 

Note 5

This property is located in Cork and was formerly a residential unit for Sisters and a “ step-down “ facility for patients leaving Hospital.  Due to its age and condition and the lack of funds, which would have been necessary to bring the facility to acceptable standards it was decided in late 2007 to close the property and place it on the market.  Unfortunately, the property failed to sell and in the present property climate is not likely to be sold in the foreseeable future. The redundancy costs paid to staff on the closing of the facility was borne by the Congregation and net of Redundancy Act rebates amounted to € 684,092. The Congregation still carries the now considerable costs of security and insurance on the property.  

Financial Assets

Financial Assets (Investment Accounts and Cash) amounted to € 16.8 Million at end of June 2009.   The funds, in general, were created by the careful management of our Financial Affairs over many years and the disposal of properties to move to smaller, more appropriate accommodation and locations. For some years when Investment Portfolios enjoyed considerable growth and Dividend Income it was possible for the Congregation to withdraw Investment Funds to make up the shortfall in our Income compared to our on-going expenses in each year.  Since mid-2007, that has dramatically changed.  The value of Investment Portfolios have fallen with little hope of returning to previous levels, in terms of absolute values or in Dividend Income. What has not changed is the fact that we as a Congregation expect, in 2009 and in 2010, our expenses will exceed our income by about 1 Million Euro in each year.  This means that to make up our cash-flow deficit, we have to withdraw Funds from our Investment Portfolio at the rate of 1 Million Euro in each year, thereby crystallising the losses on our portfolio and of course forfeiting any Dividend Income that would accrue now or in the future on those funds.    The harsh reality is that, as we strive to cut costs while still delivering on our mission as much as possible, our financial assets are rapidly becoming seriously depleted.  

Actuarial Valuation Shortfall / Deficit

An Actuarial Valuation was carried out by Price Waterhouse Coopers in July 2009 in respect of the 127 members of the Congregation. This Valuation shows the capitalised value of the “shortfall “ in funding –that is the excess of projected costs of living expenses and health care of the Sisters over the projected income – salaries and pensions at present value amount to € 15.3 Million Euro.

Conclusion 

Mission Concerns

•  To maintain our services to those in our sheltered housing –particularly those women who have been in our care for many years. 

• To continue to provide the outreach services in respect of women in prostitution and to trafficked women 

•   To continue to the maximum extent possible the other services we provide – residential care for distressed families, counselling and addiction care, particularly in the present climate of actual and planned cut-backs in public services in many of the areas in which we minister.  

Financial Concerns 

The depletion of our Financial Assets at the rate of 1 Million Euro each year. 

The long-term funding of the Actuarial Deficit of €15.3 Million Euro.      

The Good Shepherd Sisters made a substantial contribution to the Redress Board in 2002. We have contributed €336,700.00 to Faoiseamh and will continue to support this counselling service for former residents. Unfortunately – as will be clear from the figures presented above – we are unable to offer a further contribution at this time, which we deeply regret.