Vol. 415 No. 8
180 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Finance if the European Commission will be carrying out any assessment of Structural Funds, particularly the manner in which they have been spent from 1987 to 1992; if account will be taken of this review in the negotiation of a new package of structural aid from 1993 to 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The European Commission is at present carrying out an internal mid-term review of the implementation of the Structural Fund regulations which were adopted in 1988 and cover the period 1989 to 1993.
The Community Support Framework (CSF) agreed by the Irish Government and the EC Commission which governs the provision of Structural Fund aid to Ireland over the years 1989 to 1993, and the supporting operational programmes, include provisions for evaluation of the implementation of the Structural Fund aided measures.
It is envisaged that the results of evaluations carried out under these provisions and the findings of the Commission mid-term review will be taken into account in the negotiations of Structural Fund arrangements for the post-1993 period.
