Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 6

Written Answers. - EC Structural Funds.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

42 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Finance if the EC Commission is proposing to redefine Ireland's status as an objective I region for the purposes of structural funding; if the Government have agreed to this change; if he will outline the likely implications of this for Ireland's structural funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

Article 8 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 specifies that, for the purpose of eligibility for EC Structural Fund assistance, the objective I regions are those regions at NUTS level II whose per capita GDP was less than 75 per cent of the Community average for the previous three years. This includes the whole of Ireland.

Northern Ireland and a number of other regions such as the French overseas departments are also included for special reasons. The list of regions applies for a period of five years ending on 31 December, 1993.

Article 8 also provides that the Commission shall review the list in good time before the five years have elapsed in order for the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, to establish a new list to apply for the period after the five years have elapsed.

The Commission has not as yet given any indication that they are in the process of carrying out this review. Indeed I would not expect them to do so at this stage, with only one and a half years of the five year period having elapsed. I am, however, keeping the matter under continuous observations to ensure that Ireland's interests will be protected at the appropriate time.