asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the EEC cross-Border funds that has been spent; and the locations of the projects on which it was expended.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Cross-Border Funds Expenditure.
7.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Special Border Area Programme which is being jointly funded by the Exchequer and the non-quota section of the European Regional Development Fund. Payments totalling £1.1 million have been made to date from the special fund which was established for the implementation of the Special Border Area Programme. This allocation has been used to commence projects in the Border counties as follows: Development of Glenveagh Park in Donegal; development of Arranmore/Burtonport landing facilities; development of Sligo airport; purchase by CIE of second-hand buses for LLSR Company; minor road improvements in all five counties by local authorities; provision of tourist-related amenities and recreational facilities in all five counties by local authorities; accommadation grants provided by Bord Fáilte in all five counties; provision of tourist-related amenities and recreational facilities in all five counties by Bord Fáilte.
In addition Bord Fáilte have been promoting the Border counties and Córas Tráchtála are assisting the marketing potential of small and medium-sized industries at various locations in the Border areas.
It is estimated that the total draw down from the fund in 1981 will be in the region of IR£3.8 million.
The Minister gave a figure of £1.1 million which has been spent so far and said that before the end of the year we will spend £3.8 million. On what projects does he propose to spend £2.8 million and could he give details?
These projects are currently being considered. To date payments totalling £1.1 million have been made from the special fund.
I am dissatisfied with the Minister's reply. How does he intend to spend £2.7 million in one month? I believe the figure should be £2.9 million. Can he explain that?
Under the non-quota section, the fund may participate in financing specific community regional development measures which differ in whole or in part from quota section measures. There was very little scope for measures in Ireland in the particular categories I have outlined. Following the Irish Government's request and the agreed statement presented to the Council of Ministers specifying that the non-quota section may assist measures relating to Border problems in the most deserving areas of the community, submitted jointly by two or more member states concerned, I want to stress that the only measures for the Irish Border problems which the Commission were prepared to consider were based on tourism in the Border areas.
The tourist measures proposed relate to development of accommodation, tourism promotion, provision of amenities and infrastructure directly linked to the development of tourism — for example, Sligo Airport comes under that heading — and improvements in communications giving access to tourist areas. I can provide the Deputy with more detailed information about the estimated total draw-up of the fund in 1981, but he will appreciate that there is a great deal of data involved.
Why has some of that money been spent on projects which have as direct an involvement with the Border as Dublin has? I am sure the Minister knows to what I am referring.
The Government put forward very careful proposals which have to meet the criteria laid down under the regional development programme. Many of the projects I have read out, such as Sligo Airport, Burtonport or the work done by the five local authorities in the area, could be regarded as assisting the tourist industry of the Border counties. It was on that basis that Sligo Airport was included and a sum of £134,000 provided. The work done by Córas Tráchtála, Bord Fáilte, local authorities, Roinn na Gaeltachta and the Department of Transport relates to the Border counties. It would be very difficult to maintain that special agreements have been reached, as, I am sure, the former Minister will agree.