Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, further to the dormant accounts fund, an estimate has been made of the number of dormant accounts and the amount of money involved which relate to Irish emigrants who had opened bank accounts here but never returned to collect their money (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9927/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 913 on 25 January 2006 relating to Exchequer funding for vulnerable Irish communities abroad.

Under the Dormant Accounts Acts 2001 to 2005, information regarding those who opened accounts that have been deemed dormant accounts is maintained by the relevant financial institutions so that funds can be repatriated to these persons or their successors where possible.

It is a matter for Government to decide how moneys in the dormant accounts fund are to be disbursed in pursuit of broad objectives, and in accordance with procedures, as laid down in the legislation. The legislation does not specify that the address or status of the original account holders should be taken into account as criteria for disbursal. Accordingly, no estimate of the nature referred to by the Deputy has been made and there are no plans at present to do so.