Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 8

Written Answers. - Border Region: State Assistance.

Seamus Kirk

Question:

60 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the total Exchequer funds provided in each of the counties in the Border region for each of the years 1989 to 1994; the total Exchequer funds allocated to each county for 1995; and the total EU funds provided in each Border county for each of the years 1989 to 1994 under the headings of CSF assistance, INTERREG I and II and other community initiatives. [7373/95]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

Expenditure under the Community Support Frameworks 1989-93 and 1994-99 is compiled on a regional basis; a breakdown of expenditure on a county basis is not readily available.

During the period of the last Community Support Framework, five of the present counties of the Border region formed the North-West sub-region: Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal; County Louth which is now included in the Border region, was part of the Mid-East sub-region. Therefore, figures shown in respect of the North-West sub-region do not include County Louth.

Because the Sub-Regional Review Committees ceased operations at end 1993 and the regional authorities were established with effect from 1 January 1994, expenditure on the basis of the areas covered by the former will be recorded up to December 1993 only. Expenditure under both CSFs from January 1994 will be compiled in respect of each of the new regional authority areas.

Exchequer and EU expenditure under CSF 1989-1993 in the North-West Sub-Region

The attached extract (Appendix I) from the publication "Department of Finance Breakdown of Structural Spending, All Sub-Regions, Edition No. 5" shows total actual expenditure, including Exchequer and EU, in respect of Operational Programmes and Actions under CSF 1989-1993 for the period January 1989 to December 1992 and Revised Forecast of expenditure in 1993 in the North-West Sub-Region. The actual expenditure for 1993 is not yet available.

With the exception of expenditure under INTERREG I which is shown at Appendix II, financial data at Sub-Regional level for the other Community Initiatives is not readily available.

1994 and 1995 Exchequer and EU expenditure in the Border Region

Details of expenditure, including Exchequer and EU, under INTERREG I for the period 1991 to 1995 and proposed expenditure under INTERREG II for 1995 to 1999 are shown at Appendices II and III respectively.

Other financial data for the Border Region for 1994 and 1995 in respect of other Community Initiatives, Operational Programmes and Actions are not yet available.

APPENDIX I

Community Support Framework and National Development Plan 1989-1993

Breakdown of Structural Spending Sub-Region 6 — North-West

Table 6.6: Total Expenditure by OP/ACTION in Sub-Region 6 (North-West) 1989-1993 IR£ms

Expenditure Heading	Total Cost	Total Public Struc Expend.	Co- Financed Public Expenditure	Non-Co- Finan. Nation. Expend.	Priv. Expend.
Total Co- Finan.	EC Participation	National
Total	ERDF	ESF	EAGGF	Other	Total	Cent Govt.	Local Auths	Other
		1=2+14	2=3+13	3=4+9	4=5+6+7+8	5	6	7	8	9=10+11+1	10	11	12	13	14
Priority 1: Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Rural Development
Environmentally Friendly Farming:	Forecast	43.135	21.323	21.323	14.926			14.926		6.397	6.397				21.812
Rev.F/cast	43.135	21.323	21.323	14.926			14.926		6.397	6.397				21.812
Forestry:	Forecast	37.287	31.358	21.688	9.828	0.043		9.785		11.860	4.180		7.680	9.668	5.931
Rev.F/cast	35.148	29.164	20.621	9.287	0.006		9.281		11.334	3.897		7.437	8.543	5.984
Rural Development:
—Rural Development	Forecast	15.417	10.531	10.531	5.680	1.911		3.769		4.851	3.915	0.162	0.774		4.886
Rev.F/cast	15.417	10.531	10.531	5.680	1.911		3.769		4.851	3.915	0.162	0.774		4.886
—Human Resources	Forecast	8.251	8.251	7.340	4.437		4.437			2.903	2.903			0.911
Rev.F/cast	10.251	10.251	8.920	5.467		5.467			3.453	3.453			1.331
Continuation of Regulation 1820/80:	Forecast	33.181	23.032	18.151	12.846			12.846		5.305	5.305			4.881	10.149
Rev.F/cast	33.181	23.032	18.151	12.846			12.846		5.305	5.305			4.881	10.149
Objective 5(a) Measures:	Forecast	205.638	167.031	165.811	96.633			96.633		69.178	67.705		1.473	1.220	38.607
Rev.F/cast	205.638	167.031	165.811	96.633			96.633		69.178	67.705		1.473	1.220	38.607
Tourism:
—Private Sector	Forecast	22.931	22.931	22.931	8.986	8.986				13.943			13.943
Rev. F/cast	16.359	16.359	16.359	5.481	5.481				10.878			10.878
—Public Works	Forecast	22.651	22.651	22.651	16.740	16.740				5.911	4.661	0.634	0.616
Rev. F/cast	21.173	21.173	21.173	14.741	14.741				6.432	1.748	1.082	3.602
—Human Resources	Forecast	8.278	8.278	7.393	4.687		4.687			2.706	2.706			0.885
Rev. F/cast	8.518	8.518	7.613	4.837		4.837			2.776	2.776			0.905
Sanitary Services:	Forecast	53.860	53.860	24.398	12.199	12.199				12.199	12.199			29.462
Rev. F/cast	52.236	52.236	39.189	21.856	21.856				17.333	17.333			13.047
Priority 2: Industry and Services
Industry and Services:
—Development Measures	Forecast	250.969	88.628	83.822	51.078	51.078				32.744	32.744			4.806	162.341
Rev. F/cast	302.561	93.631	81.674	49.101	49.101				32.573	32.573			11.957	208.930
—Human Resources	Forecast	90.675	90.675	77.691	47.588		47.588			30.103	30.103			12.984
Rev. F/cast	90.525	90.525	82.251	51.718		51.718			30.533	30.533			8.274
Valoren:	Forecast	0.301	0.301	0.301	0.150	0.150				0.151			0.151
Rev. F/cast	0.257	0.257	0.257	0.128	0.128				0.128			0.128
Priority 3: Measures to offset the effects of Peripherality
Peripherality: Roads, Rail and Access Transport:	Forecast	94.015	94.015	62.435	39.875	39.564			0.311	22.560	20.972		1.588	31.580
Rev. F/cast	109.339	109.339	61.027	38.267	37.946		0.311		22.770	20.715		2.055	48.312
STAR:	Forecast	2.691	2.660	2.660	1.430	1.430				1.230			1.230		0.031
Rev. F/cast	3.081	3.000	3.000	1.630	1.630				1.370			1.370		0.081
Priority 4: Human Resources
Art.1 (5&6) Exceptional Measures:	Forecast	82.088	82.088	52.249	28.578		28.578			23.671	23.671			29.839
Rev. F/cast	76.078	76.078	55.229	29.128		29.128			26.101	26.101			20.849
Occupational Integration of Disabled People:	Forecast	27.604	27.604	19.113	12.014		12.014			7.099	7.099			8.491
Rev. F/cast	24.986	24.986	18.732	11.761		11.761			6.971	6.971			6.254
Training Infrastructure & Trainers:
—Infrastructure	Forecast	6.520	6.520	6.520	3.333	3.333				3.187	3.187
Rev. F/cast	6.721	6.721	6.721	3.436	3.436				3.285	3.285
—Training of Trainers	Forecast	0.437	0.437	0.360	0.240		0.240			0.120	0.120			0.077
Rev. F/cast	0.447	0.447	0.330	0.218		0.218			0.112				0.117
Objective (Long-Term Unemployed):	Forecast	4.352	4.352	4.300	2.785		2.785			1.515	1.515			0.052
Rev. F/cast	3.282	3.282	3.120	2.030		2.030			1.090	1.090			0.142
Objective 4 (Occupational Integration of Young People):	Forecast	19.455	19.455	17.030	11.040		11.040			5.990	5.990			2.425
Rev. F/cast	18.425	18.425	18.850	10.930		10.930			5.920	5.920			1.675
National Development Plan only:
Energy Development:
—Bord Gáis	Forecast
Rev.F/cast
—ESB	Forecast	22.000	22.000											22.000
Rev.F/cast	35.300	35.300											35.300
—Bord na Móna	Forecast
Rev.F/cast
—INPC	Forecast
Rev.F/cast
Communications:
—Telecom Éireann:	Forecast	24.200	24.200											24.200
Rev.F/cast	21.070	21.070											21.070
—An Post	Forecast
	Rev.F/cast
Total Forecast(1)		1,075.936	832.179	648.698	385.075	135.436	111.369	138.270		263.623	235.372	0.796	27.455	183.481	243.757
Total Revised Forecast(2)		1,133.108	842.659	658.882	390.091	136.236	116.089	137.766		268.790	239.629	1.244	27.717	183.777	290.449

APPENDIX II

INTERREG: Financial Details by Year

End of September 1994

INTERREG I Border Region

			Public Expenditure
Total Programme	Total Cost	Total	Community Grants	National Administrations	Private Funds	EIB, ECSC Loans
Total	ERDF	ESF	EAGGF	Total	State	Region	Other
1991
Revised Forecast — June 1994	3.781	3.775	2.801	2.791	0.000	0.010	0.974	0.297	0.047	0.630	0.006	0.000
Actual Outturn	3.781	3.775	2.801	2.791	0.000	0.010	0.974	0.297	0.047	0.630	0.006	0.000
Difference	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
% Difference	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	ERR	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	ERR
1992
Revised Forecast — June 1994	13.830	13.215	8.136	6.444	0.344	1.348	5.079	2.716	0.195	2.168	0.615	0.000
Actual Outturn	14.880	14.265	8.136	6.444	0.344	1.348	6.129	3.766	0.195	2.168	0.615	0.000
Difference	1.050	1.050	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	1.050	1.050	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
% Difference	7.592	7.946	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	20.673	38.660	0.000	0.000	0.000	ERR
1993
Revised Forecast — June 1994	16.443	14.829	9.488	8.249	0.895	0.344	5.341	2.760	1.429	1.152	1.614	0.000
Actual Outturn	16.484	14.911	9.560	8.252	0.922	0.386	5.351	3.752	1.024	0.575	1.573	0.000
Difference	0.041	0.082	0.072	0.003	0.027	0.042	0.010	0.992	-0.405	-0.577	-0.041	0.000
% Difference	0.249	0.553	0.759	0.036	3.017	12.209	0.187	35.942	-28.341	-50.087	-2.540	ERR
1994
Revised Forecast — June 1994	21.748	16.065	12.232	9.810	0.074	2.348	3.833	1.963	1.011	0.859	5.683	0.000
Outturn Qrt 1-3	12.312	8.569	6.027	5.027	0.074	0.926	2.542	1.584	0.413	0.545	3.743	0.000
Forecast Qtr 4	6.480	5.496	3.798	2.867	0.000	0.931	1.698	0.649	0.036	1.013	0.984	0.000
Total Forecast	18.791	14.064	9.824	7.893	0.074	1.857	4.240	2.233	0.449	1.558	4.727	0.000
Difference	-2.957	-2.001	-2.408	-1.917	0.000	-0.491	0.407	0.270	-0.562	0.699	-0.956	0.000
% Difference	-13.595	-12.453	-19.686	-19.541	0.000	-20.911	10.627	13.754	-55.589	81.413	-16.822	ERR
1995
Revised Forecast — June 1994	13.635	9.561	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Forecast 1-2	8.605	7.471	5.773	1.925	0.000	0.000	0.034	0.004	0.030	0.000	0.524	0.000
Total
Revised Forecast — June 1994	55.802	47.884	32.657	27.294	1.313	4.050	15.227	7.736	2.682	4.809	7.918	0.000
Latest Forecast	54.721	47.276	32.246	27.305	1.340	3.601	15.030	10.052	1.745	4.931	7.445	0.000
Difference	-1.081	-0.608	-0.411	-0.011	0.027	-0.449	-0.197	2.316	-0.937	0.122	-0.473	0.000
% Difference	-1.937	-1.269	-1.258	0.040	2.056	-11.086	-1.292	29.938	-34.937	2.544	-5.974	ERR

The final actual expenditure tables will be available following the December 1995 Monitoring Committee Meeting.

APPENDIX III

Allocation to Border Region for Period 1995/1999

INTERREG 2

	Total Cost	Total	Public Expenditure	Private Funds
Community Grants	National Administrations
Total	ERDF	ESF	FEOGA	Other	Total	State	Region	Other
1995	22.038	19.330	13.691	12.360	0.761	0.380	0.190	5.639	2.787	0.000	2.852	2.708
1996	30.716	26.939	19.079	17.225	1.060	0.530	0.265	7.859	3.886	0.000	3.974	3.775
1997	30.715	26.938	19.078	17.224	1.060	0.530	0.265	7.859	3.886	0.000	3.974	3.775
1998	30.715	26.938	19.078	17.224	1.060	0.530	0.265	7.859	3.886	0.000	3.974	3.775
1999	30.709	26.940	19.074	17.220	1.061	0.529	0.264	7.866	3.890	0.000	3.976	3.770
Total	144.899	127.090	90.005	81.258	5.002	2.498	1.249	37.085	18.335	0.000	18.750	17.809

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

61 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance when a decision will be made on an application (details supplied) by the Chambers of Commerce in Galway, Cork, Waterford and Sligo, in conjunction with the Irish Trade Board and Shannon Development Limited, to implement an information and publicity action under the community support framework. [7377/95]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The organisations in question are seeking funding under the Community Support Framework — CSF — Technical Assistance Operational Programme 1994-1999 for the provision of information and publicity in their respective areas on the Community Support Framework and Community Initiatives.

The CSF Technical Assistance Programme 1994-1999, which includes provisions on information and publicity, is under discussion with the Commission services at present. The Chambers' submission on information and publicity will be one of the factors which will receive consideration in the discussions. However, it is not feasible to decide on specific projects pending agreement on an operational programme.

Rory O'Hanlon

Question:

62 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer and State agencies of public liability insurance premia and claims paid from the Exchequer for the last year for which figures are available; the plans, if any he has to reduce this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/95]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Generally no insurance is effected against the risk of any loss which, if it arose, would fall wholly and directly on public funds. The risks for which the Government is liable are innumerable and widely distributed. The losses maturing in any one year are never so large as materially to disturb the financial position of the year so that it is cheaper in the long term for the Exchequer to "carry its own insurance".

Department of Finance: My Department is directly and indirectly involved in many cases brought against the State under the Civil Liability Act, 1961. The following are details of cases which are directly under the aegis of the Department of Finance: One claim amounting to £12,500 was paid by my Department in 1994; three minor claims amounting to £84.99 were also paid in that year.

Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Office: One claim was paid by the Valuation Office in 1994; the amount paid was £181.50. One claim was paid by the Ordnance Survey Office in 1993; the amount paid in this case was £11,715.52.

Office of Public Works: Payments totalling £525,936.89 — i.e. £424,276.94 compensation and £101,659.95 costs — were made in 44 cases in 1994.

Revenue Commissioners: In so far as this Office is concerned, the cost to the Exchequer of claims paid in 1994 was £214,000 approximately.

State Laboratory: Four claims amounting to £140.98 were paid during 1994.

A more pro-active approach to accident prevention is being taken through increased staff safety training, site checks etc. Also greater emphasis is being placed on contesting strongly compensation claims made against the Department and Offices under its aegis.