Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2026
440. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the sums which remain in dormant accounts funding, if the fund is due to cease to exist, the plans for replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53945/26]
View answerThe main purpose of the Dormant Accounts Acts is to reunite account holders with their funds. Unclaimed funds are transferred to the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. The beneficial owner of the funds has a right to reclaim their money at any time.
Legislation governing Dormant Accounts established an administrative framework within which Departments could apply for funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Since 2017 the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has held responsibility for this function; delegated to the Minister of State. Under this framework a three year, high level, Disbursement Scheme is put in place, which indicates the broad areas for support.
Annual Action Plans are developed each year which approve funding for specific measures or projects. The 2026 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan was published in November 2025. It outlines funding across 10 Departments, with total funding of €47 million supporting 56 high level measures. The programmes and projects in the Action Plan target social, economic and educational disadvantage, and people with a disability, in line with the legislation.
With regard to the current status of the Dormant Accounts Fund, at the end of 2025 there was €246.6 million in the Dormant Accounts Fund, with €136.6 million of that held in reserve for those reclaiming their funds. This left €110 million available for disbursement, with approximately €62 million of that already committed to measures and projects under the 2026 and prior Action Plans.
The future value of the fund depends on the level inflows from dormant accounts, the level of funds reclaimed, and the funds disbursed to measures approved for funding under the annual action plans. Ensuring a sustainable use of funding is central to the work of my Department in this area. A review of the Disbursement Scheme is completed every three years and this review includes consideration of the sustainable level of approvals for the next three years. While the level of inflows and reclaimed funds are uncertain, this regular review seeks to ensure the use of the fund remains sustainable over time.
Further information on the Dormant Accounts Fund, including all published Action Plans and Annual Reports, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/dormant-accounts-fund-annual-action-plans-and-reports/
