Anti-poverty groups to get unclaimed cash boost

Disadvantaged communities are expected to be the biggest winners today in the latest round of grants from the dormant accounts fund.

Around €24m of unclaimed funds will be dispersed to fund anti-poverty projects, services for people with disabilities and the education of students with learning difficulties.

The Dormant Accounts fund was controlled by a specially-created Disbursements Board but after the passing of an amendment act in 2004, this control passed back to the cabinet.

This led the Labour Party to accuse the Government of operating a “political slush fund” but it responded by saying that the funds would be dispersed in an open and transparent way.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon O’Cuiv and Minister of State Noel Ahern will announce details of the funding at Government buildings at 10.30am today.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown is proposing to set up a similar fund to reclaim hundreds of millions of pounds from British banks.