Vol. 401 No. 4
90 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the £1.48 million held by health boards belonging to patients who died intestate and without relatives; the action he proposes to take under the terms of the Succession Act, 1965; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
On the basis of information provided by the Minister for Health in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 6 June 1990, I am aware of an amount of £1.148 million held by health boards in respect of deceased patients without relatives. I am not aware that all such patients died intestate. However, under the provisions of the Succession Act, 1965, the State is the ultimate successor to the estate of a person who dies intestate and without relatives. Such estates are administered by the Chief State Solicitor and the proceeds are lodged to the intestate estates fund deposit account and subsequently disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer.
91 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the extent to which the Exchequer has benefited in the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 from estates of persons who died intestate and without relatives under the Succession Act, 1965; the manner in which such estates are made known to the Chief State Solicitor's Office; if he has satisfied himself with the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the provisions of the Succession Act, 1965, the State is the ultimate successor to the estate of a person who dies intestate and without relatives. Proceeds from such estates are lodged to the intestate estates fund deposit account, the net receipts of which for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 are as follows:
|
1987 |
— |
£144,800 |
|
1988 |
— |
£163,700 |
|
1989 |
— |
£69,300 |
