Edward Nealon
Question:103 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education the total amount of EC funding allocated in the National Development Plan 1994-1999 to her Department for various projects.
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
The total commitments to expenditure in the National Development Plan for the human resources sector for the period 1994-1999 are £3,108 million. Of this, commitments to expenditure totalling £1,545 million are included for projects in the education sector with a provisional allocation of EC aid of £966.994 million. The final level of EC aid will, of course, be determined in discussions with the Commission of the European Communities leading to the adoption of the community support framework.
In addition, provision is made in the plan for special education measures, including at the primary level, to combat early school leaving and under achievement leading to exclusion. The measures will be targetted at selected areas under the local development programme so that an integrated response to the needs of children at risk can be provided from early childhood right through to adulthood. The expenditure levels referred to above relate to expenditure included in the National Development Plan only, and the initiatives listed will be complemented by measures supported from ongoing exchequer funding outside the plan.