John Bruton
Question:165 Mr. J. Bruton and Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment the way in which Ireland proposes to avail of the new EC 400 million ECU fund for actions to protect the environment.
Written Answers. - EC Environment Protection Fund.
I presume that the question refers to the EC Regulation establishing LIFE, a financial instrument for the environment which is intended to contribute to the development and implementation of Community policy and legislation in this field and which was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 20 May 1992.
For 1992, programmes are being financed mainly on the basis of priorities and criteria already established under the existing NORSPA, MEDSPA and ACNAT Regulations which were repealed by the LIFE Regulation. The Commission intends to establish priorities and criteria for new programmes to be financed under the LIFE Regulation from 1993 to 1995 later this year, in consultation with the Committee of Member States' representatives, chaired by the Commission, which has been established under the new Regulation. Irish representatives will fully participate in this process.