asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that EC funding under EC Regulation No. 3637/85 of 17 December 1985 will be taken up within the five year period to 1991.
16.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Regulation Funding.
5.
asked the Minister for Finance if the programme under Regulation No. 3637/85 has been finalised; and when approval of the EC Commission is expected.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 16 together.
Drafting of a programme as required by Regulation No. 3637/85 is under way, and discussions have been taking place with the Commission on the basis of a preliminary draft with a view to ensuring that the programme, when submitted, will be approved as quickly as Commission procedures allow. I expect that the programme will be approved later this year, but it would not be possible for me to specify a date. I am confident that the available funding will be taken up in the period in question.
Does the Minister agree that the time span under this directive is from February 1986 to February 1991? The indications from An Bord Gáis Éireann are that it may take up to two years to carry out the economic viability study and the feasibility study in that area.
The Deputy will realise that it involves very substantial expenditure of funds involving a significant contribution by the Exchequer. Therefore, there is a considerable need to ensure that adequate cost benefit studies have been done to satisfy oneself that the individual components of the programme are economically justifiable.
Is the Minister aware that in March An Bord Gáis Éireann in an advertisement headed, "Who Turned on the Gas" indicated that there would be gas networks in Clonmel, Limerick and Dundalk? In more recent advertisements they omitted Dundalk and substituted Waterford. This give the people in that region grave cause for concern that there may be a change at Department level or at Bord Gáis level. Can the Minister explain that?
I have no responsibility for advertisements placed by Bord Gáis Éireann.
That seems to be a separate question.
It may be, but if money is being allocated under EC regulations, as I stated, and administered by the Government, can a body such as Bord Gáis Éireann change at a whim the areas in which they proposed——
Will Deputy Leonard please give way to the Chair? The Minister has said he has no responsibility and it would appear that, if anybody is responsible, it is the Minister for Energy, not the Minister for Finance.
This is a joint project between the Department of Energy and the Department of Finance. I take it that the Department of Finance have a substantial input into the project. Because of this they should at least know where the gas line is going to and whether it is to Waterford or Dundalk.
The Council regulation in question was only adopted in December 1985 which is not that long ago considering that one is dealing with very large capital projects. The work is continuing at present on the preparation of the programme. A first draft was received from Bord Gáis Éireann and was discussed with the EC Commission at the end of May. Work is now in progress in providing the additional material requested by the Commission at that meeting.
Can the Minister give any indication of when the Department will be able to submit that material to the EC?
No. It depends on being able to come forward with satisfactory answers to questions posed by the Commission who, after all, have to approve the allocation of funds. They have to be satisfied that as the authorities here have also to be satisfied. I can, however, assure the Deputy and the House that the Government will do everything in their power through all of the agencies to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion to enable work to commence as soon as possible.
Is it not a fact that for some two years now the Commission have been suggesting to member Governments to propose integrated programmes to maximise the benefits they would receive from EC funds and is it not a fact that the Government have failed to present integrated programme proposals to the Commission which would increase by perhaps 20 per cent the funding available to this country from the Regional Fund? Is that fact not borne out by statements made by EC Commission officials in Ireland on recent visits? What is the Minister going to do to ensure we maximise our benefits?
I would make two comments on that. First of all, it is a separate question and, secondly, it is based on extremely doubtful if not false hypotheses.
This is the final supplementary.
The matter at issue can be submitted, if the Minister is not so aware, on the basis of an integrated programme to the European Community.
The question of an integrated programme is a separate matter.
It is not. I am asking the Minister if he would tell the House if the Department have submitted any proposals to the EC Commission under the integrated programme fund of the Regional Fund.
That seems to be a separate question.
We do not accept the supposition.
I am calling on the Minister to answer Question No. 6.