The legislation governing the Dormant Accounts Funds provides a framework for the disbursement of funds for measures targeted at socially, economically and educationally disadvantage people, and people with a disability. The funding is allocated through a three-year Disbursement Scheme, underpinned by annual Action Plans which set out specific programmes to be funded each year.
My Department coordinates the preparation of the Disbursement Scheme and the Annual Action Plans across Government. Responsibility for this transferred to my Department in July 2017. The most recent Disbursement Scheme, covering the period 2017-2019 inclusive, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in May 2017. Dormant Account Action Plans for 2014, 2016 and 2017 are currently operational.
The 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General noted that the Statutory Review of the 2013-2016 Disbursement Scheme, which should have been completed by December 2016, was not carried out. The report recommended that this review be completed and that it should consider, inter alia, the reasons for the low level of disbursements under the scheme. The report also identified a number of reasons for the underspend, including delays in implementing programmes and a lower than expected level of uptake for some schemes.
My Department has commenced a full review of the Disbursement Scheme 2013-2016. This review, which will be completed by the end of June 2018, will set out to improve the administrative procedures governing Dormant Accounts funding to maximise the effectiveness with which funds are distributed in order to better support the people and communities at whom the funding is aimed. It will specifically address the issue of underspend and ensure improved administrative procedures are put in place to maximise the impact of available funds.
