Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2015
591. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or an agency under the remit of his Department provide funding for a minibus to facilitate greater resources for elderly citizens in a community in Galway city to assist them in their daily routines and to improve their health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45333/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for the type of measure referred to may be available under the Dormant Accounts legislation whereby balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency.
The primary purpose of the legislation is to reunite the original account holders with their moneys, including all interest due. In addition, the legislation provides that disbursements from the Fund may be made for charitable purposes or for purposes of community benefit.
A Disbursement Scheme sets out the moneys that may be disbursed from the Fund. The current scheme was approved by Government in December 2013 and will run until November 2016. In addition, a Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan is prepared each year in order to implement the Disbursement Scheme. The most recent Action Plan was adopted on 1 July 2014 and contained an allocation in excess of €26m to be expended through a number of Government Departments and agencies.
Under the 2014 Plan, Pobal are administering the two measures (Social Enterprise and the Disadvantaged Youth Employment Initiatives/Entrepreneurship) for which my Department has responsibility and a number of other measures on behalf of the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Health.
A decision on the measures for which my Department has responsibility is expected shortly.
It is anticipated that a new Dormant Accounts Action Plan will be drafted early in 2016.
Further data in relation to the Dormant Accounts Fund are available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/DormantAccounts/.
