Vol. 433 No. 7
76 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will have financial provision made for the ACUMEN programme in the Border counties under the next tranche of Structural Funds or INTERREG Phase 2 in view of the potential for job creation arising from that programme.
The ACUMEN programme is receiving funding under the INTERREG initiative to stimulate economic development in the Border region, and this funding has been agreed on a phased basis up to the end of 1993, when the present initiative concludes.
The position in relation to a second phase of the INTERREG programme is that the Commission has just issued a Green Paper on new Community initiatives which proposes a set of initiatives covering five themes, including those of cross-Border, transnational, and interregional co-operation and networks, which would have the effect of continuing some form of INTERREG initiative. A process of consultation with all relevant interests in each member state is now being put under way by the Commission. The Government strongly supports the extension of INTERREG and is confident that it will take place. It is not possible, however, at this stage to give a commitment in relation to any particular project.
