asked the Minister for Education the benefit which will accrue to Irish education from the recently announced Regional Fund up to 1993; the amount of finance which will be made available for the structural aspects of Irish education under various sub-heads; and the recoupment of moneys for the EC which has been negotiated.
Written Answers. - EC Regional Fund.
266.
Support will be provided from the EC Structural Funds in the form of an integrated operational programme for the improvement of training infrastructure and the training of trainers. The European Regional Development Fund will provide £36.25 million between 1990 and 1993 to enhance the capability of the third level education sector to support industry in bridging the technological gap between Ireland and the more developed regions of the Community. This represents 50 per cent of the planned expenditure, the balance being made up from Exchequer sources. The funds will be used for a series of measures in key areas where serious deficiencies in equipment and accommodation have been identified in universities, regional technical colleges and colleges of technology. The figure shown excludes the funds being provided towards the improvement of infrastructure in FÁS and CERT training centres, and the funds provided through the auspices of the Eolas technology development programme.