Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Following its establishment in June 2002, the board developed a draft disbursements plan that established the framework within which disbursements from the fund would be approved. Since December 2003, the disbursements board has approved 58 projects to the tune of €6.4 million. Money from the fund is being spent on a wide range of projects and activities across diverse geographical areas, but with one essential common thread, namely the alleviation of disadvantage. In accordance with the plan, priority funding is earmarked far RAPID, CLÁR and drugs task force areas, which cover the most disadvantaged urban and rural areas in the country. The Government is fully committed to continuing this work. Recognising the work undertaken and progress made by the existing board, the Bill provides for the reappointment of its members to the new board.

The more detailed technical provisions of the legislation are set out in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the text of the Bill. I have already spoken about some of the key areas but I now propose to outline the main provisions of the Bill.

Sections 1 to 5 are standard provisions relating to definitions, establishment day, interpretation and suchlike. Section 6 amends the principal Act in relation to the section on penalties and proceedings, consequent on the removal of the provision in the principal Act on unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.

Section 7 provides for a new Part 5 of the principal Act. With the exception of section 31, the other sections in Part 5 substantially reflect the existing provisions in the principal Act. Section 31 provides that the new Dormant Accounts Board will prepare a disbursements plan and submit it to the Minister and review, assess and report to the Minister on the pattern, impact and additionality of spending from the fund and the effectiveness of the strategies in the plan.

Board membership, including the chairperson, is increased from nine to 11, with a corresponding increase in the quorum for meetings from five to six.