Vol. 389 No. 4
asked the Minister for Finance if it is intended to publish the draft plan for the South-West subregion prepared by the working group for that area in the context of Ireland's application for financial assistance from the EC Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the Minister of State for European Affairs has yet received a copy of the final consultants' report for the Dublin region; and whether the report is to be published.
37.
asked the Minister for Finance when it is intended to publish the consultants' recommendations for the Dublin development plan; if the details of the recommendations published in a report (details supplied) on 14 April were correct; the total estimated cost of the consultants' work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for Finance, in respect of the seven working groups established by his Department to prepare sub-regional plans for the National Development Plan 1989-1993, whether those groups will be maintained in existence after 31 March 1989; if so, their terms of reference; the resources which he will make available to facilitate their operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
52.
asked the Minister for Finance the procedure to be followed by the European Commission in its consideration of the National Development Plan 1989-1993 setting out Ireland's application for moneys from EC Structural Funds; when the regional plans will be published; and the input the regional plans will have on the Irish submission.
58.
asked the Minister for Finance the structures he proposes to establish to oversee the implementation of the national and regional plan for the use of EC Structural Funds.
122.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline any new structures and procedures which he intends to initiate for the dispersal of the Structural Funds; or if he will use existing structures.
126.
asked the Minister for Finance when the operational programme for the western region proposals in the National Development Plan 1989-1993 will be published.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 20, 37, 42, 52, 58, 122 and 126 together.
The National Development Plan is now being examined by the Commission of the European Communities in consultation with the Government. On completion of this examination, the Commission will draw up the Community support framework, which will outline the priorities in the plan for which Community assistance will be provided, an indicative financing plan and the forms and duration.
Following consultation with the appropriate committees, on which all member states are represented, the Commission will adopt the Community support framework, which will then be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
The plan will be implemented through a set of operational programmes as follows: industrial development, tourism, roads, transport, energy, sanitary services, telecommunications and postal services, human resources, and agriculture and rural development. Most of these programmes have been submitted to the Commission and the remainder will be submitted as quickly as possible. These programmes are being examined by the Commission in conjunction with the plan and are also the subject of consultations between the Commission and the Government.
In the preparation of the plan and the operational programmes, the work of the sub-regional groups was fully considered on the basis of interim reports which contained all information relevant to the preparation of the plan. The reports of the sub-regional groups will serve as a guide to the Departments and agencies implementing the operational programmes, but no decision has yet been taken on the question of publishing them.
All but one of the groups have now completed their work and submitted their final reports; the report for the Dublin area will be submitted by the group for that area after the consultants have finalised their work. I would not wish to comment on the accuracy of the article in The Irish Times on 14 April, which purported to be based on a draft of the consultants' report, apart from saying that the article was incorrect in implying that it was a plan which was being considered by the EC Commission for funding purposes. The only plan being considered by the Commission is the Government's National Development Plan 1989-1993. Competitive tenders were sought for the Dublin consultancy and it is not the normal practice to give the cost of a competitive tender received. Under Government contract procedures, all information in regard to tenders is treated as strictly confidential between the tendering firm and the contracting authority.
The structures to oversee the implementation of the programme, and the possibility of assigning further tasks to the sub-regional groups in this connection, will be considered in due course in the light of the discussions with the Commission. The question of making resources available to the groups accordingly does not arise at this stage.
The Minister's reply is fairly extensive but Question No. 17 in the name of Deputy Sherlock is specifically in regard to the south-west region. Did the Minister say that the sub-regional reports of the working groups will serve as a guide to the Commission?
A guide to the agencies and Departments operating at home.
So the Commission will not see them and they will not be serving as a guide to the Commission. The Minister said that the question of publishing these reports was still under consideration. Is it likely that the reports on the sub-regions, particularly that on the south-west sub-region to which the question refers, will in due course be published?
The question of the sub-regional reports being sent to the Commission does not arise. Priorities identified by the sub-regional working groups and advisory groups are reflected in the plan and will be a good guide to those implementing the operational programmes. Only the operational programmes go to the Commission with the plan — nothing else. The question of publication of the operational programmes will not arise until the operational programmes have been approved by the Commission or otherwise.
Would the Minister not consider it important, if not essential, that the sub-regional reports of the working groups should be published for the benefit of the communities and the people in the sub-regions who are anxious to see the Structural Funds disbursed in their area? Without the publication of the reports they will not serve as a guide to people as to how the Structural Funds are being used.
There is an element of repetition.
It is not repetition.
The Chair decides that.
It is a question of the importance of publishing the report.
The question of publishing the report will not arise for some time until the Commission has completed its work on the operational programmes.
Did I hear the Minister correctly when he said that the question of sending the sub-regional reports to the Commission does not arise?
That is correct.
Is the Minister serious?
I am very serious.
What happens if the Commission ask for the sub-regional reports? Will the Minister then furnish these reports to the commission?
If the Commission requests information on any specific aspect of the operational programmes, undoubtedly it will be delivered to it.
Is the Minister not aware that the Commisioner concerned is acutely aware of the fact that as yet the sub-regional reports have not been sent and that he would dearly like to see them?
If the Deputy was listening to radio or television or reading the newspapers he would be aware of the comments of both Commissioners who have already visited Ireland, namely Commissioner Millan on 6 and 7 April and the Vice-President of the Commission, Mr. Christophersen, last Friday. The same question was put to both of them and they replied in the one vein, that they agree with the Irish Government. We are a single region with one national plan and they do their busines with us, nobody else. Any information required by the Commission in relation to the plan or the operational programmes will be sought from the Government, not from anybody else.
If the Commission seeks the sub-regional reports——
That question has already been put by the Deputy.
Could the Minister give just one good reason for not issuing these sub-regional reports? If he can on his feet think of one such reason I will be very impressed.
I did not say I was not publishing the reports. I said the question of publication of the operational programmes and the sub-regional reports will be considered after the operational programmes have been approved by Brussels.
Can the Minister give one good reason they should not be published now?
The Deputy has already posed that question. This kind of repetition is not in order.
It is for the Government to decide what to publish and when. There is a lack of understanding.
I want to clarify one aspect. With regard to the Dublin consultants' report, can the Minister tell the House the date that report was completed and when it went to Government?
It has not gone to Government as yet; it is not completed. It was expected to be completed in April and I am assured it will be completed in May.
So the Minister is confirming that a plan for the Dublin region in chapter 6 of the national plan, devised by the Department of Finance, went to Brussels prior to the completion of the final report commissioned from consultants at the expense of £300,000 to the taxpayer. Is that what the Minister is saying?
The Deputy did not have to go the long way about asking that question. It is well known that the Dublin report has not been completed but that the plan which has gone to Brusels and the operational programmes reflect the priorities in the draft of the plan sent to the Government before its completion. The Deputy should not try to create a mirage of curiosity about this. Everybody knows the plan is not complete and everybody knows the national plan is in Brussels, end of story.
The consultants say there should not be a sports centre in the Dublin docks site.
Deputy Shatter may not ignore the Chair.
May I ask a supplementary question?
If it is a supplementary, yes. The Deputy was making a statement.
In the context of the plan for the Dublin region which the Minister seems to regard as very humorous, perhaps he could indicate why the consultants have formed the view that a sports centre on the Custom House dock site is not a viable proposition when the Government have included it in the plan submitted to Brussels? Which is the Dublin plan? Is it the consultants' plan, the plan by the Department of Finance or the plan by the Minister for sport?
Wait until we get the consultants' report and then I will answer the question. I have not seen it yet.
Deputy Noonan.
The sum of £300,000 has been paid for this report. It is a farce, an appalling waste of public money. The Minister thinks he is a comedian.
If Deputy Shatter wants to debate this matter he will have to find another time. A final supplementary from Deputy Noonan.
The Deputy is trying to create a mirage of curiosity when everybody knows that the Dublin plan has not been completed and that the national plan is in Brussels. He should cop himself on.
Deputy Shatter, from a seated position, is causing great disorder in the House. Deputy Noonan.
(Limerick East): The Minister will recall that on the day he was appointed to the Department of Finance the Taoiseach assigned certain weighty responsibilities for the plan to the Minister for the Environment. When did the Minister for the Environment quit the pitch and what responsibilities has he now for the implementation of the plan?
The Deputy had better ask the Minister for the Environment. My responsibilities in relation to the plan were never in doubt.
I am calling Question No. 18.
A Cheann Comhairle——
The Minister is playing to the gallery. It is a disgrace.
Adequate time has not been given to question the Minister.
Deputy Mac Giolla, please. I have indicated to the House already that if you want to debate this matter you had better find another time. Question No. 18.
A number of questions have been taken by the Minister.
Please, Deputy Mac Giolla.
You allowed a number of Deputies to rise on this question.
The Deputy got a good hearing also.
Six questions have been answered together.
The Deputy is wasting the precious time of Questions.
I am trying to elicit information from the Minister about questions which have been put down on the Order Paper.
