A total of €9.7 million from dormant bank accounts has been allocated to projects that aim to alleviate poverty and social deprivation, the Government announced today.
Funding from the Dormant Account Fund is intended to assist people who are economically or socially disadvantaged, those who are educationally disadvantaged; and those with a disability.
Under the funding, €1,315,971 has been allocated to 15 projects involving the Traveller Community, four projects in Dublin have been awarded €1 million in funding to support the reintegration of prisoners and former prisoners, and 12 projects that provide training and support services for home carers received funding of €1,480,000.
The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools scheme for 22 schools in Limerick was allocated €1,694,000 to maximise community use of school premises out of hours.
A number of organisations, including Cavan Amateur Boxing Club and Killinarden Community Council in Dublin, shared €243,000 under the Revitalising Areas by Planning Investment and Development programme, which targets 45 of the most disadvantaged areas in the State.
Two Playbus projects in Kerry and Wicklow were allocated €100,00 each. These schemes are mobile education units that focus on play opportunities and family support in isolated and rural areas.
Announcing the funding, Minister for Community Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said: “This allocation of €9.7 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund brings to over €265 million the total amount allocated to target disadvantage since the fund was initiated.
"The programme is diverse and wide-ranging and we have again tried to focus the support on measures and projects that can make a genuine difference to people at local and community level.”
Dormant accounts are accounts in financial institutions that have not been used, or insurance policies that have not been used nor reclaimed by their owners for at least 15 years.
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