John McGuinness
Question:332 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which he intends to allocate the money from dormant accounts and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28915/03]
Written Answers. - Dormant Accounts Fund.
The Dormant Accounts Disbursement Board is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department. It is responsible for authorising disbursements from the fund in accordance with its disbursement plan which was published on 7 November 2003 and which provides for the distribution of funds to assist three broad categories of persons: those affected by economic and social disadvantage, those affected by educational disadvantage and persons with a disability. Area Development Management Limited (ADM) has been engaged by the board to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf. In this regard, an invitation to organisations, groups etc. to make applications for funding under the scheme was advertised in the national press on Friday 21 November. ADM will receive and assess applications for funding and make recommendations to the board for decision. I anticipate that the board will make the first decisions on applications shortly and that disbursements from the fund will follow as soon as possible thereafter.