Dormant accounts to fund education

AT least €7.5 million is to be poured from long-term unused bank accounts into schemes to help people who have not benefited from education.

The money is part of the 30m being disbursed from dormant accounts next year, while the remainder will go to the socially and economically disadvantaged and people with disabilities.

The funding targeted at tackling educational disadvantage will be focused particularly on poorer urban areas in the Government’s RAPID programme and parts of the country worst affected by drugs. Groups and projects working with the disadvantaged and the disabled will be invited to apply directly for assistance from next week.

In addressing educational disadvantage, priority will be given to projects under a number of headings. These will include literacy and numeracy initiatives at school and community level, such as literacy summer camps for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or workplace literacy projects.

Arts-related educational projects will also be supported, and assistance will be made available for children and young people from disadvantaged areas to attend sports and language related summer camps.

The funding may also focus on:

Inter-cultural programmes.

Projects that provide literacy education for parents and learning activities for their pre-school children.

Breakfast clubs.

After-school clubs and homework support groups.

Pre-school education initiatives.

Training children in IT.

Developing alternative methods of identifying children with special learning needs.

Professor Áine Hyland, a member of the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, said the money will be put to good use.

“It will be added to existing schemes for educational disadvantage, rather than replacing any Government funding,” she said.

The economically and socially disadvantaged will receive at least €12m, aimed particularly at RAPID areas, Local Drug Task Forces and areas funded under the CLÁR programme for disadvantaged rural areas.

Priority will be given to respite facilities for carers, improving children’s play facilities and youth facilities in disadvantaged areas, day centres for the homeless, services for the elderly, drug abuse and prevention programmes and suicide prevention and counselling.

A further €7.5m is going toward schemes for people with disabilities, such as community centres, transport, home respite, residential facilities, housing improvements, counselling services, education initiatives for school and higher education, increased participation in recreation and leisure, alternative therapy and IT services and training.

The €30m being disbursed next year is the first tranche of the €165m currently available from accounts untouched for more than 15 years and unclaimed life assurance policies.

The first transfer of monies to the Dormant Accounts Fund took place six months ago and totalled €196m.

However, €18m was reclaimed by account holders, and €13m is being held in reserve to meet further claims.