Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that over the past five years approximately 8% of the prize money awarded by the prize bond company has not been claimed; and if he will include this unclaimed money in the Dormant Accounts Fund in order that it could be put to community uses. [31146/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the National Treasury Management Agency that there are at present about 9,500 unclaimed prizes in the Prize Bond scheme, dating back to the establishment of the scheme in 1957 and representing approximately €1.25 million in prize money. The number of unclaimed prizes for the years 2001 to 2005 inclusive is 5,585, or just over 1% of the total number of prizes awarded in that period.

With regard to the inclusion of Prize Bonds in the Dormant Accounts Scheme, the number of Prize Bond prizes which are unclaimed for 15 years or more is very small, with only 244 outstanding, valued at €104,000. In view of the likelihood that prizes may still be claimed and the relatively small amounts involved, I do not propose to bring any additional legislation to extend the Dormant Accounts Scheme to prize bond winnings.

I am informed that the Prize Bond Company makes extensive efforts to contact each prize-winner but are not always successful, usually because bondholders have not informed the Company of changes of address. The Prize Bond Company will also check for unclaimed prizes on request from any bondholder. All unclaimed prizes are listed on the Company's website, www.prizebonds.ie. I should add that the Company takes steps periodically to raise public awareness about unclaimed prizes, e.g. by publishing a booklet listing the unclaimed prizes and through other advertising.