Vol. 401 No. 1
43 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the amount of money held by banks in accounts belonging to people who have died leaving no relatives; his views on whether this money should be put to use on behalf of the community; the action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is no estimate available of the amount of money held by banks in accounts belonging to people who have died leaving no relatives. However, the Succession Act, 1965, provides that 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's Office and the proceeds are lodged to the intestate estates fund deposit account and subsequently disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer. I have no plans to alter the existing arrangements.
