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Dormant Accounts Fund.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004

Wednesday, 11 February 2004

Questions (233)

John Bruton

Question:

295 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the procedures he has put in place to allow specialist community groups to apply for funds collected by the Minister for Finance from dormant accounts, to allow the specialist community groups to use the funds in local communities; if he has provided advisers to groups who are seeking funds under this scheme to assist the community groups in their applications and in the completion of any project evaluation to obtain such funds as are now available from funds collected from dormant accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4091/04]

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Written answers

The dormant accounts fund disbursements board published its first disbursement plan on 7 November 2003. The plan sets out the board's priorities and provides for the distribution of funds to assist programmes or projects targeting three broad categories of persons — those affected by economic and social disadvantage, those affected by educational disadvantage and persons with a disability. A significant level of disbursements from the fund will be ring-fenced for programmes and projects within RAPID, CLÁR and drugs task force areas.

The board has engaged Area Development Management Ltd., ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf. Detailed guidelines outlining the application and appraisal procedures have been developed by ADM in consultation with the board. These guidelines, which are available from ADM or through the board's secretariat, set out clearly the criteria against which applications will be assessed and provide examples of eligible actions.

An invitation to organisations, groups and so forth to make applications for funding under the scheme was advertised in the national press on Friday, 21 November 2003. ADM is processing and assessing applications received and making recommendations to the board for decision on an ongoing basis. If any organisation or community group requires assistance in completing an application for funding, it should contact ADM directly.

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