asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the steps he has taken to ensure that Ireland receives the maximum sums available from the European Social Fund; the amount he expects Ireland to receive from the European Social Fund for 1987 and 1988, the way in which he proposes to participate in the preparations of integrated programmes for submissions to the Commission following the Brussels summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - European Social Fund.
165.
My Department is the national agency responsible for matters relating to the European Social Fund. In that role, it engages in a whole range of activities which are designed, individually and collectively, to secure maximum benefits from the fund for this country.
The Department provides information and advice about the European Social Fund and the possibilities of assistance from that fund for different types of operations. It helps Irish bodies in the preparation of applications for ESF assistance and of claims for payment of approved ESF grants and ensures that these are forwarded to the European Commission in good time and in the proper form. The Department also conducts any subsequent necessary discussions and negotiations with the Commission in regard to Irish applications and claims.
On the policy side, my Department is directly responsible for any negotiations, within the Social Affairs Council or otherwise, in relation to ESF matters. At present, as I indicated in my reply to Dáil Questions Nos. 3 and 9 on Thursday 10 March, the Department is actively involved in negotiations to implement the decisions of the recent European Council concerning increases in the Community Structural Funds, including the ESF. The constant objective in all these negotiations is to ensure that the rules and guidelines of the ESF are formulated as far as possible so to enable this country to benefit to the maximum extent. The degree of success achieved by my Department in all its efforts is evidenced by the level of ESF assistance obtained for this country since Ireland's accession to the European Community in 1973. In 1987, a total of £162.2 million was approved for Ireland by way of ESF grants; payments received totalled £193.5 million. The receipts figure for 1987 is exceptionally high due to the fact that last year substantial arrears of grants outstanding from earlier years were paid by the Commission. This level of receipts will not, therefore, be repeated in the present year.
The amounts of ESF grants approved for 1988 will not be known for another couple of months or so. The best estimate at present is that the total approved for this year will not differ greatly from the 1987 figure. It is not possible at this stage to estimate the amount of payments expected to be received in 1988.
Concerning the action taken generally to follow up the decisions of the European Council, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by me in response to Questions Nos. 3 and 9 on 10 March. As regards integrated programmes, I intend that, to the extent feasible, activities supported by the European Social Fund will be included in the programmes being drawn up for the Dublin, Cork and western regions, which have already been announced by the Taoiseach and the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs.
It is my intention to draw up plans for national measures in relation to long term unemployment and youth unemployment in line with Objectives 3 and 4 of the proposals agreed by the European Council. Work on these plans has already commenced. Finally, my Department will, when the relevant implementing regulations are formulated and in consultation as necessary with other Departments and agencies, take any other measures necessary to secure maximum benefit from the European Social Fund for this country.