asked the Minister for Labour the amount of money received from the EEC Social Fund to date; and the purposes for which it is being used.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Social Fund.
12.
The total amount of money approved to date for payment out of the European Social Fund amounts to £13 million. Further grants amounting to about £8.4 million have been recommended for approval by the European Social Fund Committee. Of the grants approved £5,303,497 has actually been paid over in respect of 1973 operations and one partial grant for 1974. Other payments from the fund in respect of 1974 and 1975 have not yet been received. On a per capita basis Ireland is receiving more than any other EEC country.
The money is being used mainly to assist the development of vocational training, including vocational rehabilitation of the handicapped.
Did the Minister say £13 million?
Yes.
Did the Minister say that over £5 million of that has been paid?
Further grants amounting to £8.4 million have been recommended for approval by the European Social Fund Committee.
That is in addition to the £13 million, but only over £5 million has in fact actually been paid. Is this correct?
Yes. There is a problem. The £13 million refers to all moneys to date. There is always a discrepancy between moneys actually in hand and those approved because the way the Commission operate, in relation to the social fund, is that although a sum may be approved for a project the money is paid on an instalment basis. The finality of the transaction is only reached when the project is completed and in fact in operation. This explains why there is always this discrepancy between approval and money received.
Did the Minister say that funds were mainly used for a project for the retraining of handicapped people?
Yes.
Has the £5 million received to date been spent on that project?
I have not got a breakdown but I can supply the Deputy with a breakdown or he can put down a question if he is not satisfied with the promises made here about giving him information. We certainly can give him a breakdown of the way the fund money has been allocated under the different headings. It is spent in a myriad of ways but I will give him the main headings.
I do not think it should be necessary to ask a further question when I asked the purposes for which the money is being used. I would have expected the Minister to spell that out clearly in his reply.
I have attempted to spell out the purposes for which it is spent, the development of vocational training including vocational rehabilitation of the handicapped. If the Deputy wants specific material under those headings I can give him the projects and the firms.
I would appreciate that.
Would the Minister circulate to Deputies the 17 projects which have been assisted?
I will.