Vol. 380 No. 10
asked the Minister for Finance the name of the consultants being hired by the Government to assist in preparing a National Programme of Community Interests for EC funding for Dublin; their terms of reference; and the agreed fee to be paid to such consultants.
40.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will name the steering group preparing the National Programme of Community Interests on behalf of the Government for EC funding towards projects in Dublin; when the proposals will be completed; and the amount of expected financial benefit to Dublin from such a programme.
I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.
The steering committee which has been established to oversee the preparation and implementation of the national programme of community interest for EC purposes for Dublin comprises representatives of the Departments of Finance, Agriculture and Food, Energy, Environment, Labour, Industry and Commerce, Tourism and Transport, the Dublin City and County Manager, Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Commission of the European Communities. Representatives of relevant State-sponsored bodies may accompany Departmental representatives as the need arises. The chairman and secretariat are provided by the Department of Finance. It is the convention to avoid naming officials in the House, so the names of the members of the committee are not being given in this reply.
The steering committee drew up a brief for a study by consultants to help in preparing the programme. This brief is a comprehensive statement of the objectives and requirements of the study. I have arranged for a copy of the brief to be placed in the Dáil Library and a copy to be sent to the Deputy directly. This brief was given to a range of consultants as a basis for them to tender for the work. The proposals received are now being examined. I expect that a decision on which consultants to appoint will be taken in the near future.
It was envisaged in the brief sent to consultants that work on the study would commence in June, with a final report being submitted at the end of the year. This timetable is dependent on the timing of a decision by the EC Commission, who have been asked to finance part of the cost of the study.
It is not possible at this stage to indicate what financial benefit Dublin will gain from the programme.
