Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide the dividend payment received by the State for shares held in AIB, BOI and PTSB for each year that data is available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5113/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In answering the Deputy's question, I should note that a recommendation to pay dividends is the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks. I am precluded from intervening in commercial and operational decisions in any particular bank, even one in which the State has a shareholding.

AIB and Bank of Ireland resumed paying dividends in 2017 and 2018 respectively, for the first time since the global financial crisis. PTSB has not paid a dividend in this time. I should add that PTSB announced in December 2023 that the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) removed the so-called “dividend blocker” which prohibited the bank from paying dividends to shareholders irrespective of the financial performance of the bank.

I also wish to highlight that ECB guidance in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in March and December 2020 impacted on dividend distributions for 2020 and 2021. AIB and BOI withdrew their proposed dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 which was due to be paid in 2020. None of the banks paid a dividend during 2021.

The total yield to the State from dividends from the State shareholdings in the banks is €1,303 million. The below table sets out the dividends received by year and institution.

*Please note that the dividend received in each year relates to the performance in the previous financial year. Hence the dividend received in 2024 relates to the banks 2023 financial year etc.