Revealed: counties with the highest value of unclaimed prize bonds 

A breakdown reveals the counties with the highest amount of unclaimed prize bonds including Limerick €115,361, Galway €105,850 and Waterford €102,520. Picture: Pexels

Labour TDs have called for €3.6m worth of unclaimed prize bonds to be spent in local communities.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath provided the figures to Cork East TD Seán Sherlock after he queried the amount of prize bonds that are unclaimed or could not be claimed due to the person who held them being deceased.

A country breakdown shows €1.6m in unclaimed prize bonds alone are in Dublin, while €309,959 is unclaimed in Cork.

Mr Sherlock said: “This is a significant sum of money that could be put to good use in counties where it currently is lying unclaimed.

Cork East TD Seán Sherlock queried the amount of prize bonds that are unclaimed. Picture: RollingNews.ie

“I would hope that the minister would give serious consideration to moving this unclaimed fund to the Dormant Accounts Fund to ensure that it is money that is put back into the local communities, right across the country.” 

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal Duncan Smith said it would be beneficial if Mr McGrath would ensure the money was spent in each county for projects.

“It’s very important that communities in Dublin are able to access resources to find projects locally," he said.

“Ensuring that Dublin money is retained in the Dublin area for projects that enhance our communities would be a very beneficial move on the part of the minister. Projects such as the Women's Shed in Swords requiring permanent accommodation could benefit from such funding,” he added.

A breakdown reveals the counties with the highest amount of unclaimed prize bonds including Limerick €115,361, Galway €105,850 and Waterford €102,520.

While Dublin has the highest value of unclaimed prize bonds, Armagh has the lowest, with €2,512. Some €249,826 worth of unclaimed prizes are held outside of Ireland. 

County/Country	Value of Unclaimed Prizes
Co Armagh	€2,512
Co Antrim	€6,712
Co Clare	€51,636
Co Cork	€309,959
Co Cavan	€30,618
Co Carlow	€25,594
Co Dublin	€1,618,461
Co Donegal	€54,585
Co Down	€9,701
Co Derry	€3,929
Co Fermanagh	€9,375
Co Galway	€105,859
Co Kildare	€88,939
Co Kilkenny	€37,103
Co Kerry	€72,239
Co Longford	€19,419
Co Louth	€51,081
Co Limerick	€115,361
Co Leitrim	€18,661
Co Laois	€74,475
Co Meath	€69,426
Co Monaghan	€22,397
Co Mayo	€58,109
Co Offaly	€28,362
Co Roscommon	€33,737
Co Sligo	€85,072
Co Tyrone	€9,235
Co Tipperary	€86,493
Co Waterford	€102,520
Co Westmeath	€36,339
Co Wicklow	€90,348
Co Wexford	€63,312
Outside Ireland	€249,826
Total	€3,641,396