Vol. 419 No. 10
16 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will confirm that Ireland has formally requested the EC Commission to reform the terms and conditions of EC Structural Funds so as to enable public transport infrastructures to receive the maximum 70 per cent level of EC support in the next sections of Structural Funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
On a general level, issues relating to the terms and conditions which will govern the next stage of EC Structural Funds are matters for my colleague the Minister for Finance.
However, in so far as public transport is concerned, the current Structural Fund regulations provide for a maximum aid rate of 75 per cent in the case of public expenditure; a maximum of 50 per cent applies to private sector expenditure. These maxima do not apply in all cases. The actual rates to apply to particular measures are negotiated with the EC Commission in the various operational programmes.
Negotiations on the detailed provisions of regulations to govern post 1993 Structural Funds have not yet commenced at Community level. In discussions on the general outline of the Commission's proposal commonly known as the Delors 2 package, Ireland has indicated that there should be wider application of the maximum aid rate in the next phase of the Structural Funds. Once the EC Commission brings forward draft regulations, Ireland will pursue this question formally in the context of the detailed discussions.
For my own part, I will be endeavouring to ensure that the level of EC funds for public transport is maximised.
