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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 1986

Vol. 365 No. 4

Written Answers. - EC Commission Finances.

113.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the adequacy of finances available to the EC Commission for the current financial year; if there are sufficient funds available to maintain existing programmes at the levels agreed on; and the impact Spain and Portugal are having with regard to the maintenance of the levels of the regional social policy programme for this country.

It is understood that the EC Commission will be seeking in the near future a supplementary and amending budget for 1986. It is only when the request is made that the details will be available. In the absence of a supplementary budget it is likely that there would not be sufficient funds available to maintain programmes at existing levels.

The Deputy can rest assured that the Government will seek to ensure that the appropriate decisions are taken in relation to the Commission's request for a supplementary budget in order that the functioning of the structural funds is not adversely affected.

As regards the impact of enlargement of the Community, the Commission have indicated that they regard enlargement as a budgetary constraint in 1986 only in relation to the Regional Fund. However, in relation to the effect of enlargement on Ireland's receipts from the Regional Fund, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the agreement that was reached in relation to national shares on 18 December 1985 when the fund regulation was being adapted to take account of enlargement.

On that occasion the Commission guaranteed to the less prosperous member states that in 1986 they would be able to receive ERDF assistance at least equal to their guaranteed minimum percentage share of the fund for 1985.

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