Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the dormant accounts disbursement board. The board is an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board is currently deciding how to disburse up to €30 million. At its meetings on 19 December 2003 and 17 February 2004, the board approved 18 projects for funding totalling approximately €1.7 million. The details of these approvals, including the names of the individual organisations involved as well as the specific grant amounts follow in tabular form. The board will next meet on 16 March 2004 when it is anticipated that a further list of projects will be submitted to it.
Given the emerging size of the fund, existing legislative provision is inadequate. Shortcomings are evident on a number of fronts. There is no explicit provision for a properly developed organisational structure to support the board. Current arrangements, which involve a handful of seconded civil servants in a secretariat role, are not designed to support disbursements on the scale now emerging. Existing provision requires that a part-time chairman should be wholly accountable for expenditure running into hundreds of million of euros which is, clearly, unsustainable. Existing arrangements do not adequately support the aligning of expenditure by the dormant accounts board with policy priorities debated in this House and approved by Government.
If we are serious about tackling disadvantage, we must target resources. There is a considerable wealth of expertise and practical experience residing in public bodies which routinely deal with areas of disadvantage and disability. Current arrangements do not adequately allow this key resource to inform decisions on expenditure from the fund. These alone were the reasons the Government reviewed arrangements for dormant accounts in December 2003. In view of these issues, it was apparent there were two possible routes that could be followed. One was to set up an independent agency with a large staff, CEO, offices etc., to administer the fund. The other was to use the existing mechanisms of State and accounting procedures, including accounting officers of different Departments, to support clear criteria, a transparent application process, and rigorous evaluation of projects.
The first approach would have led to an inordinate amount of the fund being dissipated on administration. Implicit in the second route, using existing agencies was the requirement that Departments or their agencies would support and inform the disbursement of funds. The advantage of using the existing infrastructure of State to carry out this work is that much less of the money than otherwise would be the case will be spent on overheads and administration, and the benefit or the expertise of the whole State system will be available for the evaluation of projects. Under this, legal responsibility for decisions would ultimately lie with the relevant Minister and accounting responsibility with the relevant accounting officers.
The objectives of the disbursements scheme — as set out in the board's first disbursement plan — will remain unchanged. It is focused on funding to assist programmes or projects targeting three broad categories of persons, namely, those affected by economic and social disadvantage, those affected by educational disadvantage, and persons with a disability.
As regards the integrity of the proposed future system for disbursement, it is important to note that the Government decision of December 2003 provides that decisions in this area would be taken following a transparent application and evaluation process. With regard to the board itself, the Government proposes key roles for it, with particular regard to advising on priority areas to be considered annually for funding, and preparation of the disbursement plan.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
Furthermore, the board will critically assess the additionality and impact of spend on a regular basis. This is of critical importance and arrangements will be put in place to ensure that spending under the Dormant Accounts Board will be kept separate from the normal Estimates process, so that additionality can be verified. Draft legislation is to be brought forward this year with a view to giving effect to these decisions. I expect the draft legislation will be published over the coming months. The proposed improved arrangements will lead to much better governance and improved impact and will secure and enhance accountability to the Oireachtas.
List of Approved Grants
Group/Organisation
|
Grant (€)
|
Proposal Description
|
St. Paul’s Scout Unit, Lisduggan, Waterford
|
95,000
|
Scout hall renovation
|
South Westmeath Literacy Scheme, Athlone
|
17,500
|
Assistance for After Schools Programme
|
Mountmellick Development Association
|
60,333
|
Building renovations to ensure accessibility for persons with a disability
|
Sligo County Council
|
117,800
|
Development of urban regeneration plan for Cranmore area
|
Leitrim County Council
|
40,000
|
Renovations to Drumshanbo outdoor swimming pool
|
North Cork Adult Basic Education Service, Mallow
|
49,331
|
Education programme for adults who missed out on second-level education
|
Mallow Daycare Centre, Cork
|
6,030
|
Provision of furniture for daycare extension
|
Tralee Community Development Project Ltd., Kerry
|
199,912
|
Refurbishment of first floor of centre
|
Monsignor McCarthy Steering Committee, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
|
110,300
|
Renovations to existing community recreational facility
|
Merchants Quay Project, Dublin 8
|
157,709
|
Managing drug-related neighbourhood programme
|
Wexford Borough Council
|
160,000
|
Provision of three play areas within local disadvantaged estates
|
Crosscare Aftercare Support Unit, Dublin 7
|
103,000
|
Development of community programmes to benefit young people
|
Youghal Youth Committee (Foroige), Co. Cork
|
137,271
|
Programme enabling at risk young people achieve optimum benefit from school
|
National Adult Literacy Agency, Dublin 1
|
69,555
|
Develop literacy CD
|
Mayfield Employment Action Project Ltd., Old Youghal Road, Co. Cork
|
10,462
|
Conduct study of community education needs
|
Tallaght West Education Support Forum, Dublin 34
|
48,300
|
Training programme for isolated women
|
Co. Wexford Community Workshop, Enniscorthy
|
250,000
|
Provision of sports facility for persons with a disability
|
Irish Rural Link, Moate, Co. Westmeath
|
45,110
|
Building renovations to ensure accessibility for persons with a disability
|
Total Grants (€):
|
1,677,612
|
No of Approvals: 18
|