Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
49. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures he is taking to address the issues raised in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Dormant Accounts Fund; and if the timely disbursement of such funding will be ensured to achieve the objectives of the legislation and the disbursement scheme. [18907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the required statutory review under the Dormant Accounts Act 2001 for the 2013-2016 disbursement scheme which expired at the end of November 2016 has been conducted; if so, if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19006/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 58 together.
I refer to my reply of 27th March 2018 to previous questions on this matter, which set out the position with regard to the review of the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme 2013-2016 and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Dormant Accounts Fund.
In summary, the Comptroller and Auditor General's report contained a single recommendation that the statutory review of the Disbursement Scheme should be carried out to identify how well the scheme was implemented and how future schemes can be designed to ensure the scheme objectives are met. The report also stated that the review should consider the reasons for the low level of disbursements, whether allocating funds to measures which do not fully use the resources prevent other programmes from being funded, and how the available funding can be best applied.
My Department is currently undertaking the statutory review, which will be completed by the end of June 2018. The key focus of the review is to address the points raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General and to ensure that the significant resources currently available from the fund are used in an efficient and effective manner. The review will also identify and consider wider and longer term issues, including how to best ensure the long term sustainability of the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The preparation of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2018, which is currently under way, has been informed and guided by the issues raised by the C and AG and the ongoing review being carried out by my Department.
