Ministers announce a further Dormant Accounts funding for sport

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, today announced a further investment package of €1.4 million in Dormant Accounts funding for sport.

Today’s investment follows the announcement of almost €1.5 million in Dormant Accounts funding for sport in July and €1 million for sports projects in North East Inner City Dublin last month.

The investment of €1.4 million is being allocated to National Physical Activity Plan measures for disadvantaged communities and will be administered by Sport Ireland.

Minister Ross said: “I am delighted to announce a further €1.4 million in funding for sport measures through the Dormant Accounts Fund, to go along with the €2.5 million already announced this year and my Department’s €47.3 million to Sport Ireland in 2016. This investment will support new and existing initiatives and will greatly contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and communities right across the country.”

Minister O’Donovan said: “This funding will support the delivery of actions for disadvantaged communities under the National Physical Activity Plan. My Department has worked closely with Sport Ireland, the Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies for sport to ensure the comprehensive programme of initiatives resulting from this funding will give more people with disabilities and those from socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity.”

Kieran Mulvey, Chairman of Sport Ireland, said: “Following on from previous investment in Community Sport and Physical Activity Hubs we are already seeing the benefit to local communities and sports organisations. All of the initiatives funded under the Dormant Accounts Fund will make it easier for people to get involved in and engage in a more active and healthier lifestyle.”

Highlighting the initiatives’ contribution to the National Physical Activity Plan, John Treacy, Chief Executive of Sport Ireland commented: “In line with the objectives of the National Physical Activity Plan, this investment allows Sport Ireland, in conjunction with the National Governing Bodies for Sport and the Local Sports Partnership, play a lead role in making sure that more people are more active on a regular basis.”

Breakdown of Dormant Accounts Funding - National Physical Activity Plan 2016 Sports Measures

Community Sport  and Physical Activity Hubs (CSPAH):

Dormant Accounts Funding will be allocated to establish and develop six new CSPAHs in 2016. The objective of the CSPAHs is to bring local people together and provide a home for local clubs and sports organisations.

The Hubs provide information, support and advice on a wide range of sports and physical activities to make it easier for people in disadvantaged areas to get involved in and engage in a more active and healthier lifestyle. Applications to establish and develop CSPAHs were sought from Local Sports Partnerships in a competitive bid process under three theme areas: Community Setting, Schools Based Setting and an Outdoor Setting. There are nine existing CSPAHs being supported through Dormant Accounts Funding, and this second phase will see an additional six established:

Outdoor Recreation

Dormant Accounts Funding will be allocated to six initiatives to maximise physical activity and recreation amenities in the natural environment. This includes working to deliver targeted interventions to develop the area of outdoor recreation, with specific focus on those who are educationally or socially disadvantaged and for those with a disability.

Get Ireland Running, Cycling and Swimming

Dormant Accounts Funding will be allocated to support the National Physical Activity Plan for disadvantaged communities through the development of new Get Ireland Running, Get Ireland Cycling and Get Ireland Swimming initiatives. Applications were invited from Athletics Ireland, Cycling Ireland and Swim Ireland for funding under these initiatives.

Get Ireland Walking

Sport Ireland developed the Get Ireland Walking initiative, in collaboration with a number of national partner organisations in 2013 and coordinates the program with Mountaineering Ireland with financial support from the Department of Health. The programme seeks to grow the culture of walking in Ireland and support the establishment of community walling groups throughout the country. A number of new walking initiatives will be developed with a particular focus on the personal and social development of persons who or economically and socially disadvantaged; these include Men’s Shed Walking Initiative and School Walking Initiative.

National Physical Activity Plan Initiatives supported through National Governing Bodies for Sport

Sport Ireland invited applications from NGBs for funding under the Dormant Account Fund to support actions in the National Physical Activity Plan for disadvantaged communities. 

Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health

One of the primary strategic goals of Dublin City University (DCU) is to transform lives and societies. The Physical Education (PE) school-based Y-PATH (Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health) programme, which commenced at DCU in 2010, aims to do this through education with direct impact on the local community.  The fundamental goal of Y-PATH is to improve physical activity levels and FMS (Fundamental Movement Skills) proficiency levels of first year post-primary youth through the importance of physical activity for health, improving levels of motivation, regulation, and empowerment, exposure to a range of modes of activity, development of physical literacy, and generating a supportive environment for physical activity through working with parents and teachers.  This initiative will specifically target youth from areas of social disadvantage.

Dormant Accounts Funding

The Dormant Accounts Act 2001 together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012 provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.

Dormant funds/unclaimed life assurance policies, which have not been reclaimed by the original account/policy holder or their beneficiaries, are transferred each year by the financial institution/insurance undertaking to the Dormant Accounts Fund which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). 

The legislation provides for a scheme for the disbursement of funds that are unlikely to be reclaimed. In each year monies may be disbursed in accordance with Part 6 of the 2012 Act, from the Account, but only for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist:

1. the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
2. the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged or
3. persons with a disability (within the meaning of the Equal Status Act 2000)

The Dormant Accounts Fund is the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.