asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of financial help under all headings which this country received from the EEC in the past two years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Financial Help.
13.
The amount of subsidies and grants approved for 1973 is £44.073 million. This is an increase on the figure shown in Annex II of the Fourth Report on developments in the European Communities and the alteration is due to an increase in the amount approved for 1973 for the guarantee section of FEOGA. The amount of loans approved from Community funds in 1973 was £11.31 million. The total sum approved by way of subsidies, grants and loans in 1973 was then £55.383 million.
The figures of approved expenditure in 1974 are £72.849 million for subsidies and grants and £24.8 million for loans, that is a total of £97.649 million. With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a table giving a breakdown of these figures.
Following is the table:
SUMMARY of Subsidies, Grants and Loans approved or awaiting decision.
Table I
Subsidies, Grants and Loans Approved
|
1973 |
1974 |
|
|
£m. |
£m. |
|
|
(i) Subsidies and grants approved (including monies granted for work on behalf of the Commission) |
||
|
FEOGA—Guarantee Section Guidance Section |
37.0482.87 |
63.7781.85 |
|
European Social Fund |
4.085 |
6.789 |
|
Research and investment: |
||
|
—Euratom biology and health protection and standards —Environmental Research Programme —Projects in the hydrocarbon sector |
0.020 —— |
0.108 0.160 |
|
Regional studies jointly financed by Ireland and the Communities |
0.014 |
0.052 |
|
Monies for studies and surveys carried out by Irish agencies on behalf of the Commission:— |
||
|
—Survey on consumer attitudes in Ireland |
0.032 |
— |
|
—Statistical surveys in agricultural sector carried out in |
||
|
accordance with EEC Directives |
0.060 |
|
|
—Miscellaneous studies and surveys relating to economic and social matters in Ireland |
0.004 |
0.052 |
|
TOTAL (i) |
44.073 |
72.849 |
|
(ii) Loans granted from Community Sources |
||
|
EIB |
11.1 |
24.8 |
|
ECSC (for building new houses and modernising old houses for coal workers in Cork and Leitrim) |
0.21 |
— |
|
TOTAL (ii) |
11.31 |
24.8 |
|
Total Subsidies, Grants and Loans |
55.383 |
97.649 |
Note:
(i) due to delay in payment in some areas funds may not be disbursed by the Commission for some time after approval; accordingly the amount of cash received in the periods in question may be less than the amounts approved. The figures shown for 1974 for the FEOGA Guidance Section are the best available at present and may be altered when final accounts have been settled.
(ii) Receipts also arise as a result of the Community regulations on social security for migrant workers. Ireland will receive £1.5m. and £1.3m. for 1973 and 1974 respectively, from the United Kingdom for the provision of health services and social welfare allowances in accordance with these regulations.
Table II
APPLICATIONS for subsidies and grants in 1974 awaiting decision.
|
1974 |
|
|
£m. |
|
|
FEOGA—Guidance Section |
7.41* |
|
European Social Fund |
0.300† |
|
Total Applications Outstanding |
7.71 |
* This figure does not take account of some of the projects submitted in 1973 which were not approved and which have been carried forward for consideration in 1974.
† Applications totalling £10.4 million have also been submitted for operations to be carried out in 1975, 1976, 1977.
As we have received such massive injections of finance from outside, can the Parliamentary Secretary say why we are in such a poor way? The Government could reduce VAT by at least 5 per cent because they are in receipt of expenditure that no previous Government received. Yet, we have the highest cost of living——
Is the Deputy asking a question or is he giving information?
Would the Government consider putting this money to better use?
The Deputy has raised a question far beyond the individual scope of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, I would point out that it was the Deputy's party who described as ridiculous our proposal to remove VAT from food.
That is no answer.