Vol. 455 No. 2
16 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the arrangements, if any, that are being made by each Department and agency funded by moneys from the European Union to be self-supporting or dependent on central funding by 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9186/95]
The Government is monitoring and will continue to monitor all issues relating to Ireland's position as a beneficiary of EU Structural Funds after 1999 when the current round of funding expires. It would not be appropriate for me to speculate, at this time, on what the likely outcome of the Structural Fund negotiations for the post-1999 period will be. However, I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to benefit from Structural Funds after 1999, even if not at the current level. I would also like to assure the Deputy that the Government will be considering all the possible scenarios and their implications, including the consequences of any change in the level of Structural Funding for Ireland as a result of the increase in Ireland's GDP per capita as a percentage of the European Union average, and will ensure that Departments and agencies adjust to the post-1999 situation with minimum budgetary dislocation. The improvement in Ireland's relative position is welcome and is a tribute to the successful implementation of our stabilisation policies and to the productive uses which continue to be made of the EU Structural Funds.
