Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 98: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the discussions he has had with the Department of Finance to seek to establish the number of dormant accounts belonging to Irish exiles which are included in those made over to the Dormant Accounts Fund; the value of these accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18134/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Number 148 of 9th March 2006 relating to ownership of dormant accounts and to my earlier reply to Question Number 913 of 25th January 2006 concerning funding for vulnerable Irish communities abroad.

Under the Dormant Accounts Acts 2001-2005 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.

The legislation does not require financial institutions to make available the address or status of the original account holders. Accordingly no estimate of the number and value of accounts referred to by the Deputy has been made and there are no plans at present to do so. In this regard, I can confirm that I have not had discussions on the matter with the Minister for Finance.