asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the prize bonds office of the Bank of Ireland has mislaid records in the course of moving offices as a result of which persons are being required to produce twice grants of probate or administration in order to obtain a refund of the value of bonds held by deceased persons; and if he will have steps taken to have this situation remedied immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prize Bonds Scheme.
38.
I am informed by the Bank of Ireland that no records were mislaid as suggested by the Deputy. Grants of probate and administration were required to be produced twice in a number of cases because in the first instance they were received in the Bank of Ireland, College Green, during the closure of the banks when they could not be registered. To avoid delay in the further administering of estates they were returned to the senders with a covering letter explaining the circumstances. On resumption of normal the upper flat areas around this produced again for registration purposes.
39.
asked the Minister for Finance what sums are anually earned by the Bank of Ireland for services provided by it in the operation of the prize bonds scheme.
The Bank of Ireland is recouped all actual expenses incurred in the management of prize bonds plus a management fee of 15 per cent of the total salaries of the staff employed on the scheme. The total paid for the year ended 30th November, 1969, was £42,078. The account for the year ended 30th November, 1970 has not yet been received.