Details of the organisations receiving allocations from the €180 million dormant accounts fund are to be announced in November, almost 18 months after the establishment of the board which will disburse the funds. Some €30 million will be allocated every year.
Labour's community affairs spokesman, Mr Brian O'Shea, said it was "disgraceful" and "appalling" that so much time had been wasted in the allocation of monies from the fund.
The fund was set up from bank and post office accounts that had not been used for more than 15 years.
Mr O'Shea said the organisations needed money to provide essential services while an "over-cumbersome" model to allocate the funds was being put in place.
However, Mr Noel Ahern, Minister of State for Community Affairs, rejected the allegation and said the plan of the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Fund had been amended to include the ring-fencing of funds to Rapid, Clar and Drug Task Force areas.
The Government wanted to direct funds towards areas suffering particular disadvantage, he said.
For those with disability, the plan had been amended to "ensure a focus towards those who require intensive levels of support". After November "things will move very quickly".
