Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I want to put on the record the enormous boost received by various community organisations in Longford and Westmeath as a result of dormant accounts funding. While I realise the levels of new measures and programmes for disbursement from the fund are likely to remain low given current budgetary constraints, I believe it is important to highlight the importance of funding for community organisations such as RAPID.

RAPID is aimed at improving the quality of life and the opportunities available to residents of communities in cities and towns and reduce the deprivations faced by residents of disadvantaged communities. I take this opportunity to thank the RAPID co-ordinators in Westmeath and Westmeath County Council who have done tremendous work in this area.

RAPID operates across the themes of community safety, anti-social behaviour, health, family support, environmental issues, youth, education, training and employment. It has benefited the estates of Grange, Farran Raithín, D'Alton Park, Ennell and Michael's Park in Mullingar, as well as seven estates in Athlone.

Groups such as the Mullingar Youth Cafe continue to look for funding through the dormant accounts fund. Midlands Regional Youth Service is the lead agency supporting this project and the young people of Mullingar are working very hard for the progression of the cafe. While five areas were identified under the dormant accounts fund in 2009, Mullingar included, no actual moneys were provided in 2011. Will the Minister do all he can to get resources for these projects? I hope he will see a way to invest some of the funds into the original 46 RAPID areas as there has been no investment since 2008. A sum of €100,000 would go a long way in Athlone.

The main purpose of this legislation is to reunite account holders and policy holders with their funds in credit institutions and insurance undertakings. It further provides for a scheme of disbursement for charitable purposes or purposes of societal and community benefit of funds that are not likely to be reclaimed.

I am confident that under the responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, this objective will remain unchanged. I welcome the Bill and commend the Minister on his work. I hope communities across the country will benefit from the money that will be forthcoming.

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