Proinsias De Rossa
Question:32 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Energy if any coal mining areas in Ireland will benefit from the European Commission's RECHAR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - RECHAR Programme.
Brendan McGahon
Question:91 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Energy whether Ireland will oppose the implementation of the RECHAR programme for helping regions affected by a declining solid fuel industry if it is not amended to cover Irish regions affected.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 91 together.
The RECHAR programme is intended to offer European Community assistance in the form of loans and grants to certain coal-mining areas in the Community which have been or are likely to be hardest hit by problems of industrial restructuring, and because they have special difficulties in adjusting rapidly to changing economic circumstances.
Specific criteria have been laid down by the Commission for eligibility under the programme, most notably that the total number of coal-mining jobs lost since 1 January 1984 and the number of jobs at risk equals or exceeds 1,000.
Despite the fact that job losses in the Irish coal-mining industry, including Arigna, will not reach this level, Ireland has asked the Commission to examine our case with a view to obtaining any assistance which might be available. This application is being processed by my colleague, the Minister for Finance. He will, no doubt, keep the House informed of developments in this area.