Vol. 429 No. 6
345 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on recent reports that, having met Commissioners Pádraig Flynn and Bruce Millan, EC Structural Funding will be available for secondary education in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the impact this will have on the capital programme in secondary schools.
I met with EC Commissioners Padraig Flynn and Bruce Millan on 18 March 1993 to discuss with them the implementing of regulations for the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, respectively.
The purpose of this meeting was to brief the Commissioners on the broad policy objectives which I wish to pursue in the context of the next round of structural funds and to discuss with them the extent to which these objectives could be facilitated within the eligibility criteria being proposed for the operation of both Funds.
The Deputy will be aware that a National Development Plan is in the course of preparation for the utilisation of the next round of EC Structural Funds. Proposals for developments in the education sector will form an integral part of that plan. It would, therefore, be premature for me to discuss, in the manner requested by the Deputy, specific proposals for interventions in the education sector.
