Written Answers. - Allocation of Border Funds.
Mary Coughlan
Question:
68
Miss Coughlan
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the moneys that have been spent to date under the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation; the criteria under which funding has been spent; the agencies and/or Departments which will be responsible for the programme south of the Border; the precise amount of money that will be made available under each sub-programme, north and south of the border; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17303/95]
Dermot Ahern
Question:
69
Mr. D. Ahern
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the arrangements, if any, that have been made regarding the allocation of the peace initiative Border funds; the progress, if any, regarding disbursement of these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17348/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.
The special EU Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties provides for a new five-year Community initiative, with funding of 300 MECU of (IR£240 million approx.) allocated for the first three years (1995-97) of the initiative. The special support programme is designed to complement existing EU and national programmes and the funding provided is entirely additional.
Northern Ireland and the Border counties will receive respectively, a maximum of 80 per cent and a minimum of 20 per cent of the total funding. For the six Border counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo this will amount to EU funding of 60 MECU.
In the joint Operational Programme adopted by the Commission on 26 July 1995, five priority areas were identified for support namely: employment; urban and rural regeneration; cross-Border development; social inclusion; productive investment and industrial development. Within each of the five priority areas there are several sub-programmes.
The total funding involved for each sub-programme, (i.e. EU, public and private funds), North and South, and the delivery and monitoring arrangements for the disbursement of financial assistance in the South are set out in summary form in the following annex. Further details of all arrangements can be found in the operational programme, a copy of which was sent to all Oireachtas Members in the Border region shortly after its adoption.
As of yet, no disbursements have been made by either intermediary bodies or Government Departments under the EU special initiative. This has been primarily due to the difficulties in finalising administrative arrangements, which are quite complex and innovative. It is expected that all the necessary arrangements will be completed in the very near future by the Department of Finance.
EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties
The following Table details the delivery mechanisms and responsible Departments in respect of the Border counties and for cross-Border activities in respect of the above Programme. The total funding (EU, public and private) in millions of ECU for each of the sub-programme measures, North and South, is also shown.
Sub-programme 1 — Employment
Measure 1 — Boosting Growth and Re-training for Peace
Delivery Mechanism — training and education providers
Responsible Authorities — Department of Enterprise and Employment in association with Department of Education
Total Funding — North £14.489 million
South £1.25 million
Measure 2 — Action for Jobs
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of the Taoiseach in association with Departments of Enterprise and Employment and Education
Total Funding — North £18.524 million
South £1.667 million
Measure 3 — Improving the Accessibility and Quality of Training, Education and Employment Services
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of the Taoiseach in association with Departments of Enterprise and Employment and Education
Total Funding — North £8.421 million
South £1.666 million
Measure 4 — Accompanying Infrastructure and Equipment Support
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of the Taoiseach in association with Enterprise and Employment and Education
Total Funding — North £8.421 million
South £1.25 million
Sub-programme 2 — Urban and Rural Regeneration
Sub-programme 2 (a) (Northern Ireland)
Measure 2 (a) 1 Urban Regeneration Belfast and Derry
Total Funding £13.472 million
Measure 2 (a) 2 Urban Regeneration for Peace and Reconciliation — Region wide
Total Funding £11.788 million
Sub-programme 2 (b) Rural Regeneration (Northern Ireland)
Measure 1 — Community Based Actions
Total Funding £6.311 million
Measure 2 — Rural Economic Development
Total Funding £14.271 million
Measure 3 (a) — Water-Based Tourism
Total Funding £5.66 million
Measure 3 (b) — Fisheries and Aquaculture
Total Funding £0.267 million
Sub-programme 2 (C) Urban and Rural Regeneration (Border Counties)
Measure 1 (a) — Urban and Village Renewal and Tourism (ERDF)
Delivery Mechanism — County Council led task force in each area including representation from County Enterprise Boards, Area Partnerships, Regional Tourism Organisations, the Arts Council, other relevant bodies and local community groups (including LEADER groups)
Responsible Authorities — Primarily Department of the Environment in liaison with other relevant sectoral agencies and in the areas covered by this measure. Department of Transport, Energy and Communications and the Department of Tourism and Trade respectively will co-ordinate the transport and tourism related actions.
Total Funding £4.667 million
Measure 1 (b) — Urban and Village Renewal and Tourism (EAGGF)
Delivery Mechanism — County Council led task force in each area including representation from County Enterprise Boards, Area Partnerships, Regional Tourism Organisations, the Arts Council, other relevant bodies and local community groups (including LEADER groups)
Responsible Authorities — Responsibility will rest with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in association with the Department of the Environment, the Department of Tourism and Trade and other relevant sectoral agencies.
Total Funding £3.833 million
Measure 2 — Community-led Development
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Departments of the Taoiseach and Environment in association with other relevant Government Departments
Total Funding £7.5 million
Sub-programme 3 — Cross Border Development
Measure 1 — Business and Cultural Linkages
Delivery Mechanism — Co-operation North/IBEC/CB (NI)
Responsible Authorities — Department of Foreign Affairs in association with other relevant Government Departments. A steering group chaired by Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht will have an input into the cultural sector.
Total Funding — North £9.112 million
South £9.137 million
Measure 2 — Infrastructure
Delivery Mechanism — Public Bodies
Responsible Authorities — Departments of the Environment and Transport, Energy and Communications.
Total Funding — North £5.052 million
South £8.584 million
Measure 3 — Co-operation between Public Bodies
Delivery Mechanism — Public Bodies
Responsible Authorities — Department of Foreign Affairs in association with other relevant Government Departments in relation to European Regional Development Fund funded projects. Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in relation to EAGGF funded projects. Department of Enterprise and Employment in association with Department of Education in relation to ESF funded projects and Department of the Marine in relation to FIFG funded projects.
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Total Funding—
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North£5.417 million
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South£5.417 million(ERDF)
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,, £1.25 million
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,, £1.25 million(ESF)
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,, £0.833 million
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,, £0.833 million(EAGF)
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,, £0.833 million
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,, £0.833 million
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(FIFG)
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Measure 4 — Cross-Border Community reconciliation
Delivery Mechanism — Combat Poverty Agency (ADM)
Responsible Authorities — Departments of Social Welfare and Foreign Affairs in consultation with other relevant Departments
Total Funding — North £8.507 million
South £5.833 million
Sub-programme 4 — Social Inclusion
Measure 1 — Developing Grass-roots Capacities and Promoting the Inclusion of Women
Delivery Mechanism — Combat Poverty (ADM)
Responsible Authorities — Department of Social Welfare in consultation with other relevant Departments
Total Funding — North £11.796 million
South £7.5 million
Measure 2 — Preventing Exclusion
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of the Taoiseach in consultation with other relevant Departments
Total Funding — North £11.783 million
South £2.751 million
Measure 3 — Promoting the Inclusion of Children and Young People
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Departments of the Taoiseach and Education in consultation with other relevant Departments
Total Funding — North £16.835 million
South £2.833 million
Measure 4 — Promoting the Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups and Improving the Accessibility and Quality of Services Aimed at these Groups
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of Social welfare in consultation with other relevant Authorities
Total Funding — North £13.29 million
South £2.749 million
Measure 5 — Promoting Pathways to Reconciliation (NI only)
Total Funding £5.052 million
Measure 6 — Accompanying Infrastructure and Equipment Support from the European Regional Development Fund
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Departments of the Taoiseach in association with Department of Education in consultation with other relevant Departments
Total Funding — North £17.682 million
South £1.667 million
Sub-programme 5 — Productive Investment
Measure 1 — Investment Promotion
Delivery Mechanism — Commercial Banks/EIB
Responsible Authorities — Departments of Enterprise and Employment in association with Tourism and Trade and Finance.
Total Funding — North £31.504 million
South £5.667 million
Measure 2 — New Industrial Development Services
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of the Taoiseach in association with relevant Government Departments.
Total Funding — North £16.751 million
South £2.501 million
Measure 3 — Trade Development
Delivery Mechanism — ADM (Combat Poverty)
Responsible Authorities — Department of the Taoiseach in association with relevant Government Departments.
Total Funding — North £6.131 million
South £2.501 million
Sub-programme 6 — District Partnerships (Northern Ireland only)
Total Funding of 61.94 million (EU, public and private) available to district partnerships for distribution across four priority areas of Employment (19 per cent), Urban and Rural Regeneration (19 per cent), social inclusion (44 per cent) and Productive Investment and Industrial Development (18 per cent).
Sub-programme 7 — Technical Assistance
Delivery Mechanism — Central Government and Intermediaries
Responsible Authorities — Department of Finance (EU Section).
Total Funding — North £5.054 million
South £1.248 million
