Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the expected expenditure by his Department in 2008 from the proceeds of the Dormant Accounts Fund; the figures for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12442/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) became operational in 2003, approximately €145m has been approved to support over 5,163 groups and organisations involved in tackling disadvantage and assisting persons with a disability.

Initially, decisions on the disbursements of funds from dormant accounts were a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. Under the initial round of funding in 2003 and 2004, the Board approved 521 projects for funding totalling approximately €63m. Details of these individual grants and organisations are available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie.

Following the enactment of the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005, decisions on disbursements since 2006 have been made by Government, following a transparent process. The following table summarises the €82.16m in allocations approved by Government since the beginning of 2006. Details of the individual grants and organisations are available on my Department's website, as outlined above.

Further allocations can be anticipated over the coming months, in respect of applications currently being processed, under the educational disadvantage and economic and social disadvantage categories. Details will be announced as soon as the allocations have been approved by Government.

In addition to the grants detailed above, €52.4m has been allocated to date from the DAF to part-finance the Rural Social Scheme and a further €10m has been approved for allocation to support a Fund for an Early Intervention Programme for Children. These allocations were approved by Government, following consultation with the Dormant Accounts Board. The Dormant Accounts Programme for 2008 was approved by Government on 11th March and details of the relevant measures that will be eligible for funding this year — and the overall level of funding to be allocated — will shortly be made available on my Department's website.

Finally, the Deputy should note that the value of the Fund at end of January 2008, net of liabilities, was €102.869m and that information on transfers into and allocations and actual disbursements from the fund are posted on my Departments web site and regularly updated.