Vol. 448 No. 1
67 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Finance when the INTERREG II Programme will be approved and published; the level of funding that will be available; the number of sub-programmes that will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1447/95]
The joint Ireland/Northern Ireland draft programme under the second INTERREG structural funds Community initiative was submitted to the EU Commission at the beginning of November 1994. Based on the successful pattern achieved under INTERREG I it will offer a multisectoral range of measures covering infrastructure, (including roads, energy, telecommunications and transport), environmental protection, economic development, tourism, community development, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and human resources.
Consideration of the INTERREG II programme by the Commission is at an advanced stage, and it is expected that it will be approved shortly. Funding allocations to individual measures cannot yet be confirmed but overall Ireland will get EU funding of approximately 89.5 mECU (in 1994 prices).
It is envisaged that the programme will be launched at a suitable venue in the Border region as soon as possible after it has been approved.
Under the 1994-1999 INTERREG initiative there will also be a maritime INTERREG programme between the Dublin, Mid-East and South-East regions and Gwynedd and Dyfed in Wales. Ireland will get EU funding of 70 MECU (in 1994 prices) under this programme.
