Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the Dormant Accounts Board will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31218/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a reconstituted board which will consist of a chairperson and ten ordinary members all of whom must have knowledge or experience relevant to the board's functions.

Section 32(3) of the Act provides that not fewer than four of the ten ordinary members are to be persons who in my opinion have knowledge of, and experience relating to, the purposes for which disbursements may be made under the Act and will be appointed following consideration by me of any submissions received, on foot of a published notice, indicating that appointments will be made to the board and inviting recommendations relating to those appointments.

In this regard, a notice was placed in the national newspapers in July 2005 calling for submissions concerning appointments to four of the ten places for ordinary members referred to in section 32(3). A total of 18 submissions were received and I am now considering these submissions. It is my intention that the new board will be established shortly.