Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Department of Rural and Community Development

Dormant Accounts Fund Administration

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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528. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the action plans for 2015, 2016 and 2017 as provided for by the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012; the way in which control and governance is exercised over disbursements in their absence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8781/18]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The legislation governing the Dormant Accounts Funds provides a framework for the disbursement of funds for measures targeted at socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged people, and people with a disability. The funding is allocated through a three-year Disbursement Scheme, underpinned by annual Action Plans which set out specific measures which may draw down from the Fund.

My Department coordinates the preparation of the Disbursement Scheme and the Annual Action Plans across Government. Responsibility for this transferred to my Department in July 2017.

The most recent Disbursement Scheme, covering the period 2017-2019 inclusive, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in May 2017. Dormant Account Action Plans have been put in place by the relevant Departments responsible at that time for 2014, 2016 and 2017. However, I understand that the 2014 Plan was produced in the latter half of that year and a decision was made to allow sufficient time for these programmes and projects to develop throughout 2015 rather than adopt a new action plan for 2015.

The roll-out of annual Action Plans takes place over a number of years. The 2014, 2016 and 2017 Action Plans have proceeded over the last 4 years resulting in disbursements from the Fund of €36.5 million to programmes and projects which have aided the defined target groups.

The preparation of the 2018 Action Plan has now commenced and I recently wrote to each Minister requesting that their Departments identify possible measures for inclusion in the Action Plan. My Department will review the submissions made by Departments in this regard and, upon completion of this process, I expect to be in a position to submit the final 2018 Action Plan to Government in May 2018.

In parallel with the development of the 2018 Action Plan, my Department has also commenced a review of the previous disbursement scheme which ran from 2014-2016. This review, which will be completed by the end of June 2018, will set out to improve the administrative procedures governing Dormant Accounts funding to maximise the effectiveness with which funds are distributed in order to better support the people and communities at whom the funding is aimed.

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