Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 3

Written Answers. - EC Funding.

Ivor Callely

Question:

73 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance if there has been any significant or radical changes in Government strategy by the Government on the spending of EC funds since the allocation of the £8 billion EC Structural and Cohesion Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peter Barry

Question:

77 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish details of the National Plan to be sent to Brussels; the general priority areas which are being included for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peter Barry

Question:

78 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Finance when Ireland's National Plan, on which the spending programme for 1994 onwards will be based, will be submitted to Brussels; whether the March date will be kept; whether this date is to be postponed; if so the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 77 and 78 together.

The National Development Plan which will form the basis for the negotiation of the Community Support Framework for EC Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund for the period 1994-1999 is currently in preparation. The central priority of the plan will be the creation of sustainable employment and growth. The plan will reflect the priorities of the Partnership Government as laid out in the Programme for Government. The priority areas for investment, the best mix of programmes and measures and the optimal sectoral balance are crucial issues which will be considered carefully by the Government in drawing up the plan.

While the European Council at its Edinburgh meeting agreed the overall budget for the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, the allocation by Member State/region has not been decided as yet.

The regulations governing the administrative arrangements for submission of the National Development Plan to the EC Commission, including the deadline, have not been agreed at EC level as yet. It is hoped to finalise the plan around end May or early June. This should allow sufficient time for negotiations with the Commission to be completed and the new programmes to be in place at the start of 1994. At an early stage of planning last year my officials were working towards a target date for finalisation of the plan of end-March 1993. There is no particular reason for the change in target date.

The National Development Plan will be approved by the Government before submission to the EC Commission. Information on its contents will be widely available for discussion at that stage.