Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 5

Written Answers. - Border Counties Funding.

Bertie Ahern

Question:

44 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government has agreed to ensure that northern counties adjacent to the Border are allocated their fair share of international funding specifically targeted at copperfastening the peace process. [15095/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the EU's special Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties.

The Peace Programme, as it is known, provides for a new five-year Community Initiative for Northern Ireland and the southern Border counties. EU funding of 300 MECU, or IR£240 million approximately is allocated for the first three years of the initiative.

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 £48 million approximately. When national matching funds are added, this will bring the total to £60 million approximately.

Funding in respect of the Border counties is not allocated on a county basis, but rather on a project basis. It is thus impossible to say at this stage what will be the eventual outturn for each county. The arrangements and procedures for the disbursement of financial assistance under the special support programme for Peace and Reconciliation are set out in the Decision adopted by the Commission on 26 July of this year.

For the Border counties, more than half of the Programme will be delivered by intermediary bodies. For the appropriate parts of the Employment, Urban and Rural Regeneration, Social Inclusion and Productive Investment Sub-programmes, the intermediary bodies are Area Development Management Ltd. (ADM) and the Combat Poverty Agency. Co-operation North and IBEC/CBI(NI) will manage part of the cross-Border Development Sub-programme.