Vol. 418 No. 4
78 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the plans, if any, that have been undertaken by his Department in order to maximise the benefits which will be available under the improved Structural Funds scheme.
The Community budgetary package for the period 1993-97, which among other things will determine the total amount of Structural Funding available within the Community, is still the subject of negotiation at Council. Furthermore, allocations to individual member states will not be decided for some time. Thus it is too early to estimate what level of funding will be available to Ireland. The Government will be seeking to secure the highest possible level of funding for Ireland. Every attempt will be made to maximise the benefit of that funding by the formulation in due course of a national plan and operational programme that match areas of need with available funding as closely as possible.
