Richard Bruton
Question:78 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will instruct each Minister to publish benefit and cost evaluations of proposed uses of Structural Funds so that there can be informed debate on the choices being made.
Written Answers. - Structural Funds Evaluation.
There has been considerable ongoing work on evaluation of the various Structural Funds programmes and of the Community Support Framework, commissioned by the Irish authorities and by the EC Commission.
As part of the preparation of the National Development Plan, which will set out the Government's proposals for the use of EC Structural and Cohesion Funds in the period 1994-1999, a group of consultants comprising the Economic and Social Research Institute in association with DKM Economic Consultants; G. Boyle, Centre for Agriculture and Food Policy Research, Maynooth College; and Brendan Kearney and Associates were engaged to undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Community Support Framework 1989 to 1993 in contributing to Ireland's economic development and to make recommendations on the strategy that should underpin the next Community Support Framework; following from that strategy, the optimal mix of national programmes and measures to implement the strategy, and practical ways of providing for greater integration and complementarity of measures within programmes. Although the main recommendations of the consultants have been received, the assignment is not yet fully completed. The assignment was carried out by the consultants on the basis that it was not the intention of the Department of Finance to publish their report. Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies co-operated with the consultants and supplied material to them on that understanding. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to publish the report now. When the assignment has been completed consideration will be given to whether the main conclusions of the consultants should be published.
The publication of evaluations and cost-benefit analyses undertaken in the different sectors covered by Structural Funds programmes is a matter for the individual Ministers responsible for their sectors.