# Dormant Accounts funding still elusive in Northern Ireland

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/07/12/dormant-accounts-funding-still-elusive-northern-ireland/
- Published: 2017-07-12T08:32:48+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**No money has yet been allocated by the Dormant Accounts Scheme [first announced](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/11/28/dormant-accounts-act-passed/)
in 2008 in Northern Ireland, according to recent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.**

Over the past few months [Neil Irwin](https://www.nifundraising.org/), fundraising
consultant and chair of the Institute of Fundraising, has asked a series of questions
of the Department of Finance, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), to try
and find out when these finances will be unlocked.

The Northern Ireland government and specifically the Department of Finance holds
the Dormant Accounts money and it is understood that the Big Lottery Fund locally
will be distributing the money.  So far none of the over £7.3 million available 
has been released, despite four different finance ministers announcing its availability.

## Advertisement

In response to Mr Irwin’s FOI questions the Department of Finance said:

**How much money is currently available for distribution in Northern Ireland from
dormant accounts?**

There is currently £7.3m available for distribution in Northern Ireland from Dormant
Accounts.

**How much money has been spent in Northern Ireland from dormant accounts under 
The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008?**

To date here has been no money spent from the Northern Ireland Dormant Accounts 
allocation.

**What is the current policy for distribution of dormant accounts in Northern Ireland?**

The Policy for the New Opportunities Fund which will enable the utilisation of the
Dormant Accounts funds is currently being developed.

**How many times and by which ministers has dormant accounts funding been announced
since 2007?**

The intention to develop a scheme for the use of Dormant Account funds in Northern
Ireland has been announced on 4 separate occasions by the following Ministers: Sammy
Wilson, Simon Hamilton, Mervyn Storey and Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.

**May I have a copy of the consultation response to the public consultation that
closed on 29 October 2009?**

A response to the “Dormant Account Scheme Consultation on Spending Priorities for
Northern Ireland” which closed 29 October 2009 was not published as the outcome 
was inconclusive.

Mr Irwin said he suspects that no money has been allocated because politicians can’t
agree on how the money is spent.

“There must be disagreement on its allocation. The report on its consultation was
never published, so they must not have been able to agree,” he said.

 

_Photo: [Dormant accounts – sleepy piggy-bank](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-146605688.html)
by Chris Brignell on Shutterstock.com_

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)