Written answers

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Dormant Accounts Fund Administration

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to his declared intention to publish a dormant accounts disbursement action plan, if he has consulted only with some Government Departments and with the special purpose agency Pobal with regard to the preparation of that action plan; the reason that led to the exclusion of all other stakeholders in the consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26471/14]

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the analysis expressed in the Reaching Out – Guidelines on Consultation document, published by the Department of the Taoiseach, that consultation supports greater transparency, which is an important principle of good governance, that consultation helps to ensure that the operations of Government and bodies throughout the public sector are conducted with greater clarity and openness, that in public consultation processes, Governments recognise that public policy making is enhanced through the active involvement and contribution of all stakeholders with an interest in particular policy developments and that by ensuring interested parties can express their views about a particular proposal, the decision-making process becomes better informed, more rigorous and more accountable; his views that, in the absence of public consultation, the credibility of the forthcoming dormant accounts disbursement action plan is compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26472/14]

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

116. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the dormant accounts disbursement scheme for 2013-2016 is publicly available; if he will provide a copy to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26476/14]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 116, inclusive, together.

Under the balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the . The primary purpose of the legislation is to re-unite the original account holders with their moneys, including all interest due. In addition, the legislation also provides that disbursements from the Fund may be made for purposes of community benefit.

In accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012, the objectives underpinning disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund remain unchanged; allocations will continue to focus on programmes or projects to assist the personal and social development of persons who are economically disadvantaged, the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability.

A new Disbursement Scheme was prepared, in accordance with the 2012 Act , after consultation with various Ministers , including the Minister for Health, the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Social Protection. The Scheme was approved by Government in December 2013 and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 18 December 2013. The Scheme is also available on my Department’s website at

The 2012 Act also provides for the preparation of an Action Plan each year to give effect to the Scheme. My Department, together with Pobal, is currently in consultation with the Minister for Health, the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Social Protection and other Ministers as appropriate in relation to the Action Plan, which I expect to be finalised in the coming weeks. Under Government Accounting procedures, disbursements on Dormant Accounts measures are paid in the first instance “up front” from the relevant Department’s Vote in the same way as with any other spending programme. Government Departments have to source funding for Dormant Accounts programmes from their Exchequer allocation in the annual Estimates process.

Once spending takes place, it is reimbursed to the Exchequer from the Dormant Accounts Fund in the form of Appropriations-in-Aid payable through each Department’s Vote. The Government Departments will ensure that disbursements will have regard for the three themes set out in the Act, the priorities and policies of Government and the availability of monies within Departments for the proposals and measures to be adopted under the Action Plan. These are the first rounds of preparation of a Disbursement Scheme and Action Plan under the 2012 Act. The Department will review the experience involved in advance of the preparation of the next iteration of the Disbursement Scheme and Action Plan.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.