Avril Doyle
Question:4 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment whether every project in his Department receiving CSF funding under the 1989-1993 National Plan met the required 25 per cent level of co-financing from national resources.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CSF Funding.
Avril Doyle
Question:44 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment the national co-financing requirements which will be attached to funding of environmental projects under the CSF 1994-97.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 44 together.
In the period 1989-93, projects funded through my Department and attracting Structural Fund support have received, or are receiving, either 25 per cent or 50 per cent co-financing from national resources. Community aid rates of 75 per cent and 50 per cent apply to national primary roads and non-national primary roads investments, respectively, under the peripherality programme. The balance in all classes is met from national resources. Water and sanitary services projects receive 50 per cent national and 50 per cent Community funding under the Operational Programme for Water, Sanitary and Other Local Services. Coastal sewage treatment projects supported by the Community initiative ENVIREG receive 25 per cent national funding and 75 per cent Community funding.
It is too early to determine the national financial requirements which may be attached to environmental projects under the next Community support framework. The National Development Plan will have to be negotiated with the EC Commission before this framework is established.
Will the Minister be clear on this issue and stop adding to the confusion in relation to additionality? Even the ESRI pointed to that in its recent report. Has there been national co-financing of at least 25 per cent for every project within the Minister's Department financed under the last programme of CSF funding? Will the 25 per cent additionality clause apply to the next programme?
There is no confusion on this side of the House on these matters.
Just tell the world what you are doing.
The answer to the second part of the Deputy's question is yes. In regard to the third part of the question, it is too early to determine the national co-financing element in the new national plan. Under the Cohesion Fund the co-financing from EC resources could be as high as 85 per cent, leaving 15 per cent under that heading to be funded by the national Government. Consideration is being given to amending the regulations regarding the Structural Funds. In very exceptional meritorious cases, it is possible for the funds to go as high as 85 per cent under the present proposals. However, the number would be extremely limited. No projects under the existing programme have gained less than 25 per cent from national resources.
Perhaps it is a lack of understanding on my part, but I find it hard to accept the Minister's explanation. Given the huge overall increase in spending on our roads programme, aided and abetted by a very generous contribution from Europe, will the Minister agree that the national Exchequer contribution to the roads has decreased by 24 per cent in the last four years? That fact just does not marry with what the Minister told me. Can he explain it?
This matter is quite clear to everybody on this side of the House. In 1988 the total provision for national, primary and secondary roads was £80 million. In 1993 the total provision for national, primary and secondary roads was £242 million and the 25 per cent provision by the Government is greater than the total amount spent in 1988.
Is any project or spending programme which has been aided by CSF funding in the last four years under investigation by the Commission in the context of co-financing and additionality?
Not to my knowledge although, on at least one occasion, I had to investigate a particular development in one part of the country. That has now been rectified and the appropriate refund made.