Photo Caption: Minister Kehoe with Ollie O'Connor CEO of O.N.E and Jim Casey, National Chairman of IUNVA.
Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, T.D., today (Thursday 28th November 2019) confirmed the provision of €300,000 of funding towards the provision of services by the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (O.N.E.) and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) to former members of the Defence Forces.
Following a meeting with Veterans representatives at Government Buildings today, Minister Kehoe stated that €100,000 will be made available to the two organisations over three years in order to fund projects.
This funding will cover the period 2020–2022 under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020.
In welcoming the funding, Minister Kehoe said:
I recognise the valued public service that has been given to the State by retired members of the Defence Forces and it was in this context that I sought additional funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan.
As part of the supports currently offered to veterans, my Department has Service Level Agreements with O.N.E. and IUNVA which set out the services the Department provides to these Associations. Under the terms of these SLAs, my Department provides financial support by way of an annual subvention to O.N.E. and IUNVA to encourage their valuable efforts and the range of services they offer to ex-service personnel.
This Government is proud to be able to invest significantly in our former Defence Force members, who for decades dedicated their lives representing our State both at home and abroad.
O.N.E has put in tremendous work in developing a network of Veterans Supports Centres nationwide, which provide significant supports to Veterans and their families.
IUNVA too has been quickly developing its drop in centres, which I know are extremely popular with Veterans.
The additional funding awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 will span the next three years and will make a significant additional contribution to the work of each organisation.
The Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provides a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings. Under the legislation, a scheme was introduced to allow money in the Dormant Accounts Fund to be used by Government to fund programmes or projects which would assist the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged, the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged, or persons with a disability.
Minister Kehoe offered his thanks to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring T.D., and Minister of State, Seán Canney, T.D. The Department of Rural and Community Development oversees the administrative framework within which Departments may apply for funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund.