James Leonard
Question:101 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline (a) the amount of INTERREG funding approved for each of the Border counties including Sligo and (b) the projects to be funded.
Written Answers. - INTERREG Funding.
One of the major innovations in the reform of the Structural Funds adopted in 1988 involved the switch from a project-based to a programme-based approach. Information on the Community Support Framework and operational programmes is therefore provided on a programme rather than on a project basis. Information on expenditure is available in relation to the sub-regions specified in the National Development Plan and also referred to in the Community Support Framework. However, a breakdown of expenditure on a county basis is not provided.
Under the joint Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG Programme the EC is providing 76 million ECU (approximately £58m) in Structural Funds assistance towards expenditure under the programme in the eligible Border areas in the North and South. There are no specific allocations of expenditure or aid by county and individual projects are assessed for inclusion in the programme on the basis of the selection criteria established for each of the individual measures.