Vol. 426 No. 6
80 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a special fund within his Department for the provision of matching funds to cross-Border programmes, especially the CRISP programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme (CRISP) is a scheme under the disadvantaged areas initiative operated by the International Fund for Ireland, which is administered by an independent board. The scheme is designed to help bring about community-led economic development in the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland. It draws matching funding from the British Exchequer. The Minister has no function in relation to the scheme.
The Department of Finance has overall responsibility, together with the Department of Finance and personnel in Belfast, for the management of the joint Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG (Border areas) programme which is supported by the EC Structural Funds. The matching funding for the EC aid comes from a mix of Exchequer, other public sector and private sector services. Where the matching funding for particular measures under the programme comes from the Exchequer it is provided for in the Votes of the Departments responsible for the relevant measures. This is in line with the normal practice for Structural Fund-assisted expenditure and is considered more appropriate than providing for a special fund within the Vote of the Department of Finance.
