Vol. 422 No. 4
43 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline (1) the steps he is taking to draw up the new Community Support Framework plan for EC Structural Funds, (2) the groups which have been formally invited to participate in this process and (3) the timetable involved in the process and if he will make a statement on the matter.
107 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline (a) the procedures currently in place for the preparation of Ireland's integrated programme for EC Structural Funds aid for 1993 to 1997, (b) the procedures for consultation with the Houses of the Oireachtas and the social partners in the process and (c) the likely date of submission of the programme to the Commission.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 107 together. The Government have commenced the preparation of the National Development Plan, which will be submitted to the EC Commission as the first stage of the elaboration of programmes to replace the current National Development Plan and Community Support Framework 1989-1993. This plan will set out the structural measures which Ireland proposes to implement over the four year period 1994 to 1997, in conjunction with the Structural Fund and the Cohesion Fund, with a view to achieving the national and Community aims of greater economic and social cohesion.
As the current Structural Fund arrangements will expire at the end of 1993, it will be necessary to have all the new arrangements in place at that stage if a smooth transition is to be assured. I would hope to have the National Development Plan ready for submission to the EC early next year. This timetable may need to be reviewed at a later stage in the light of progress in concluding the negotiations at EC level on the Delors II Package and on Ireland's total allocation under the Structural Fund and the Cohesion Fund.
