asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the provision of funding from the international fund, if any examination has been done regarding proposals from the Economic and Social Committee of the European Community for (a) pilot farms and (b) creation of industrial zones.
Written Answers. - EC's Economic and Social Committees Report.
40.
The report of the European Communities' Economic and Social Committee was examined by all relevant Government Departments in 1984. The cost of implementing all the recommendations in the report would be very high. It was estimated at £125 million at that time nevertheless, many of the recommendations of the report have been acted upon.
As regards the Economic and Social Committee's recommendation on the establishment of pilot farms in the Border areas, I have been informed by the Minister for Agriculture that, due to financial constraints, it has not proved possible to implement this proposal.
As regards the recommendation to create a north-west industrial zone, discussions are continuing with representatives from the region regarding the terms of reference of a cross-Border study for the area which would include the feasibility of a cross-Border industrial zone.
As I mentioned in the Dáil on 11 November during the debate, on the motion to approve the agreement to establish the international fund for Ireland, the board of the fund will be independent and they alone will decide which projects will be financed by the fund. Naturally, they will take into account the proposals not only of the Economic and Social Committee report but also of other relevant studies.