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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 1972

Vol. 263 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Regional Development Fund.

12.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the initial sum proposed by the EEC Commission for the regional development fund is less than 50 million dollars a year, the Government intends making representations for a larger allocation in view of this country's problems with regard to regional development.

13.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of the proposed European Economic Community regional fund; the likely Irish contribution to the fund; and the level of benefits likely to be derived from it by this country.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 12 and 13 together.

I would refer the Deputies to the statements made in the Dáil by the Taoiseach on 25th October on Community regional policy.

Would the Minister quote from the Taoiseach's statement what the text of the reply would be to the points raised in Questions Nos. 12 and 13? What relevance has what the Taoiseach said to the soliciting of the information which we now require?

The Taoiseach indicated in the Dáil on 25th October that all member states are now thinking of a substantial fund for regional development with a budget many times in excess of the initial proposal of £20 million, which was very much a preliminary figure decided on at an early stage. This fund has to be properly structured before 1st January, 1974. A policy has to be worked out in which we will participate. We will certainly be interested in a sum for regional development far in excess of that amount and, indeed, we will have many friends within the Community who will be supporting that attitude of mind.

Does the Minister agree that we have a very special regional development problem and that it will be his duty, I presume, as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, to obtain all the money possible for development here?

(Cavan): He may be Minister for Fine Arts.

The Deputy can be assured that there is a total commitment on our part, and on the part of many countries within the Community, both acceding countries and member countries, to ensure that a properly structured regional development policy is adopted with adequate finances available for regional development.

We want to keep the promises made before the referendum.

When does the Minister envisage that advantage will accrue to Ireland under this scheme?

The proposed date is 1st January, 1974, that is, January 12 months.

Is the Minister aware that there is no Irish Government regional policy in existence and therefore the hopes of the Government in that regard are rather futuristic?

The Deputy's comment is so obtuse that it does not need a reply.

Questions Nos. 14 and 15 postponed.

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