Vol. 451 No. 8
73 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the concrete statistical evidence which can be furnished to prove that the INTERREG II cross-border initiative and the European fund for peace and reconciliation will be additional to mainstream structural fund allocations to Border counties; if he has satisfied himself that these programmes are additional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7679/95]
Structural Fund aid under the INTERREG II Structural Fund Communty Initiative and under the EU Structural Fund Community Initiative for a special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties will be additional to Structural Fund spending in the Border counties under operational programmes under the Community Support Framework for Ireland for 1994 to 1999 and under other Community initiatives.
Now that all the operational programmes under the Community Support Framework have been approved by the European Commission and the programmes under the various Community initiatives are either approved or at an advanced stage, Departments are compiling details of the forecast expenditure under these programmes in each of the eight regions. When compiled these forecasts will provide the baseline data by reference to which the additionality of the expenditure under the two initiatives referred to in the question can be demonstrated over the period of the programmes.
