Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The heads of the legislation have been approved, but I am not sure when the Bill will be before the House. The plan for the dormant accounts board was published in early November and, as Deputy Rabbitte stated, it was to be used for those affected by economic and social disadvantage, educational disadvantage and persons with a disability. These were the three categories highlighted in that plan from last November. The plan was to create a framework within which the board would disburse the resources. If I recall correctly, the original figure was quite small and the figure that came forward in that plan was somewhere in the order of €30 million, just short of it or just over it. The plan was to provide for levels of disbursement particularly for ring-fenced areas. A number of categories were highlighted where there were already programmes for the disadvantaged. The board remains in place as an advisory board.

At the last Government meeting at Christmas time, we said we would review the arrangements to make sure the projects would be evaluated, that we would look at the additional resources, would continue to have the board advise and prioritise, that its recommendations would be considered by Government and that there would be a disbursement plan.

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