asked the Minister for Labour the amount of money paid to this country over the last three years from the European Social Fund; and the amount allocated to each local authority by the Government from this fund.
Written Answers. - European Social Fund.
442.
The amount of money received by Ireland from the European Social Fund in the years 1979-1981 was as follows: 1979, £28.8 million; 1980, £46.7 million; 1981, £45.3 million. In the same period, Social Fund assistance of £370,693.43 has been received for the Environmental Improvement Scheme and the Itinerant Settlement Programme operated by the Department of the Environment. Social Fund moneys are claimed on foot of grants which have been paid by that Department to the local authorities and amounts subsequently received from the fund are credited to that Department's Vote. Allocations are not made direct to local authorities from the European Social Fund.