Govt urges wealthiest to give to charity

The Government is to invite the country’s wealthy elite to spend some of their money to redress inequality, it emerged today.

Minister of State Noel Ahern said as a country become richer, philanthropy has a bigger role to play in helping the less well off.

Mr Ahern revealed the Government would advertise in the coming weeks for philanthropic and community-based donations targeting society’s less well off as he unveiled plans to spend €36m from the Dormant Accounts Fund to help the disabled and educationally disadvantaged.

The Government has set aside €10m overall for the philanthropy initiative which it will use to match 50/50 money given by benefactors.

“There is a widely held belief that as individual wealth increases as a result of our economic successes, philanthropy has a bigger part to play in addressing inequalities in our society than heretofore,” Mr Ahern said.

“The intention of this element of this year’s funding round is to encourage the good work already in train by some individuals, to encourage more such activity and indeed to proffer support to communities who fund-raise for themselves.”

The allocation of €36m from forgotten bank accounts on schemes to aid the disabled and educationally disadvantaged was unveiled during the press conference.

The money is to be drawn from a 247m euro fund of unused accounts and insurance policies transferred to the Government.

Some €18m will be channelled through the Schools Support Programme to provide better facilities and access for the educationally disadvantaged.

This will include €12m to set up parent rooms, dining areas, outside play facilities and school libraries in deprived areas.

Another €3.5m will be put into helping disadvantaged students into third level education and providing financial guidance.

A total of €18m will be used to assist people with disabilities.

Grants for building projects, transport, aids and appliances as well as funding for transferring people from residential homes to community based housing will account for €12m.

Another €3.5m will be spent on sports and leisure activities and projects dealing with challenging behaviour.

Schools to benefit from the cash injection have already been identified by the Department for Education and Science and will be asked to apply for the funding in the coming weeks.

“The application of unclaimed funds lying in dormant accounts – where the legal owners cannot be identified – is an innovative way of making resources available to tackle disadvantage,” said Mr Ahern.

“This money – effectively money with no owners – is being applied to the public good rather than the bottom line of the financial institutions where the money was lodged.”

Education Minister Mary Hanafin said a key focus of the Government’s education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes for disadvantaged groups.

“The €18m euro being provided for education disadvantage under Dormant Accounts will supplement the almost €650m euro being provided in 2006 for a wide variety of measures to tackle educational disadvantage at all levels and for all ages – from pre-school, through the formal school system, in the youth work sector, and in second-chance education,” she said.

Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said she was pleased that funds from the Dormant Accounts are being used specifically for new supports for people with disabilities.

“One part of this funding invites applications from sporting organisations particularly, and in this way we can continue the spirit of community support for people with disabilities that was so evident in the Special Olympics,” she said.

“I look forward to a great many applications under all the headings.”

Dormant Accounts are accounts in financial institutions (banks, building societies and An Post) that have not been used, or insurance policies that have not been reclaimed by their owners for at least 15 years.