Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount which has been granted from the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, on a county basis; if he has satisfied himself that those who are really most in need are benefiting from this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9814/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The Deputy will be aware that allocations made by the board from the fund must be in accordance with its disbursement plan which was approved by me in September 2003. Under the plan, the bulk of dormant accounts funding is initially being targeted at those areas designated as most disadvantaged, that is, RAPID, CLÁR and drugs task force areas.

The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer this initial round of funding on its behalf and the process of assessing and approving applications received is currently ongoing. To date the board has approved 454 projects for funding totalling approximately €46 million. The details of all the approvals to date, on a county basis, are appended for information. Based on information received from the board, I am satisfied that the board, in making its allocations to date, is adhering to the provisions set out in its disbursement plan.