Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total funding he expects to be able to avail of in 2005 from the dormant accounts fund for allocation to various voluntary or community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16844/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that decisions on the disbursement of unclaimed moneys from the dormant accounts fund are currently a matter for the dormant accounts fund disbursements board. This is an independent statutory body, under the aegis of my Department, established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf, which involves the disbursement of up to €60 million from the fund.

The board has to date approved 481 projects for funding totalling approximately €55.2 million, from the initial allocation of €60 million. In accordance with the board's disbursement plan, the bulk of this funding is initially being targeted at those areas designated as most disadvantaged.

The drawdown of funding is subject to the satisfactory completion of legal contracts between the individual groups and the board. As part of this process, groups are required to submit necessary documentation, such as agreed budgets, tax clearance certificates, evidence of insurance etc., to ADM before payments are actually made. I understand that the board and ADM anticipate that a figure in the region of €20 million will be drawn down during 2005 in respect of approved projects.

The Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 completed its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas last Tuesday, 17 May. The Bill provides for significant changes to the disbursement process and for the establishment of a reconstituted board. Arrangements regarding further allocations from the fund are subject to the provisions set out in the Bill.