Ministers announce €1million in Dormant Account Funding for sports measures in North East Inner City Dublin
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD have today announced the allocation of €1 million in Dormant Account Funding for sports programmes and projects in North East Inner City Dublin. These measures will be implemented as part of the North East Inner City Initiative announced by the Taoiseach in July and will be delivered through Dublin City Council.
Minister Ross said: “North East Inner City Dublin has long been identified as an area in need of social regeneration. The residents in the area deserve to live in a safe and thriving community, and I hope that the Dormant Account Funding for sports measures will contribute to this aim. The communities and social groups of this area have made, and continue to make, huge efforts to rejuvenate the area, and these sports measures will hopefully contribute to these efforts in a positive way. The €1 million in funding from my Department will fund some of the first measures to be implemented as part of the cross-governmental North East Inner City Initiative, and they mark the beginning of what will be a number of significant cross-Governmental measures which this area so rightfully deserves.”
Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to be able to announce the allocation of Dormant Account Funding to this important cross-Governmental initiative in Dublin’s North East Inner City. The introduction of new sport projects along with improvements to existing projects and infrastructure will contribute to an enhanced sense of community in the area. It is important to boost participation levels in sport at all age groups and abilities, not only for health benefits, but also for the significant social benefits as people come together through sport and active recreation. The funding, consisting of €715,000 in capital funding and €325,000 in current funding, will be allocated through Sport Ireland, and I look forward to working with Dublin City Council and the Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership in the implementation of the planned measures.”
Brendan Kenny, Deputy Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, said: “Dublin City Council welcomes the allocation of additional Dormant Accounts Funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to support and enhance our existing investment in sports facilities and programmes in the North East Inner City. We recognise the importance of collaboration between Government Departments and all agencies in working towards the shared objective of improving quality of life for all who live, work in and visit the North East Inner City. We remain focused on all that is positive in the area and Dublin City Council will continue to work on the ground with a range of local groups and clubs to develop sustainable participation levels and enjoyment of sport and active recreation at community level.”
Further Information:
The Taoiseach launched a major initiative focused on the development of North East Inner City Dublin in July and is chairing a Ministerial Taskforce to support the long-term economic and social regeneration of the area. Kieran Mulvey has been appointed to prepare a report for the Taskforce, by the end of November, recommending specific measures to support this regeneration. A package of immediate measures was announced in July to help the community build on the work already being done and to tackle the challenges the community faces. This included an additional €1 million package of investment in sports facilities and projects in the area.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will allocate Dormant Account Funding of just over €1million (€715,000 capital, €325,000 current), through Sport Ireland, to Dublin City Council for a range of sports measures for the North East Inner City. Dublin City Council will lead and manage these projects in partnership with Sport Ireland, the FAI and other relevant stakeholders. This will be done in the first instance by the Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership, DCC’s Sports Division and DCC’s Local Area Management Office in Sean McDermott Street.
The current funding of €325,000 will be allocated for the following projects:
- Development of a range of new Sport Coaching Programmes in association with Sport Ireland, the GAA, FAI and others with an emphasis on the unemployed and as a gateway towards jobs
- Appointment of a full time experienced Senior Sport Development Officer to the North East Inner City Area
- Special programme of coaching at St Joseph’s (O’Connell’s) GAA Club
- Grants scheme for sports focused community organisations in the North East Inner City Area, managed by the Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership.
The capital funding of €715,000 will be allocated for the following projects:
- New artificial surface and renovation of boards and netting for existing mini pitch adjacent to Sheriff United FC Centre in Sherriff Street
- New multi-sport artificial surface for the existing all weather pitch at Larkin Community College
- New multi-sport mini artificial surfaced pitch for Dublin City Council Recreational Centre in Sheriff Street
- Sporting equipment for 15 Youth Service Groups and clubs in order to enhance existing participative programmes in the general area
- Refurbishment of existing vacant premises in Ballybough as a new boxing facility
- Grant to St Joseph’s Boys (O’Connell’s) GAA club for equipment and improvements to club centre.
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