Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total resources accruing to his Department from the dormant accounts fund for expenditure in 2005; the extent to which he intends to combat urban and rural disadvantage on foot of these resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11394/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that disbursements from the dormant accounts fund are for the purpose of assisting three broad categories of persons — those who are economically or socially disadvantaged; those who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability. 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.

To date, the board has approved 475 projects for funding totalling approximately €51.5 million from the initial total allocation of €60 million. In accordance with the board's disbursement plan, the bulk of this funding is initially being targeted at those areas, urban and rural, designated as most disadvantaged.

To date, the only resources from the dormant accounts fund which have accrued directly to my Department were in respect of funding for the rural social scheme. In July 2004, following consultation with the board and in accordance with the terms of the Dormant Accounts Act 2001 as amended, €10 million from the fund was transferred to my Department to partly finance the rural social scheme. The rural social scheme provides ongoing income and employment support to small farmers and fishermen who can no longer make a viable living from such work and is one that fully meets the objectives of the dormant accounts scheme.

The Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 was published on 24 June 2004 fulfilling a commitment given by Government in December 2003 following its review of arrangements in relation to dormant accounts funding. The Bill is currently before the Oireachtas and, inter alia, provides for significant changes to the disbursement process and for the establishment of a reconstituted board.