Vol. 460 No. 3
298 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for the Environment the role, if any, played by his Department in determining whether individual projects satisfy the criteria for Cohesion Funding; the further role, if any, played by the EU which can have the effect of a recommendation from Ireland being over-turned or refused by the EU Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1336/96]
299 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for the Environment the applications, if any, for Cohesion Funding that have been refused; if so, the reasons for the refusal in each case; whether these projects proceeded to construction; the way in which they were funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1337/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together. Council Regulation (EC) No. 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing the Cohesion Fund provides that projects to be financed by the Funds shall be adopted by the European Commission in agreement with the member state concerned. Projects financed by the Fund must meet various requirements set out in the Regulations.
It is a matter for my Department, and the National Roads Authority in the case of national road projects, to satisfy themselves that projects the subject of applications for assistance from the Fund meet the requirements of the Regulations; a corresponding assessment is made by the Commission in considering applications from member states. In many cases, discussions take place and/or correspondence is exchanged with the Commission prior to decisions on Cohesion Fund applications. To date, no application in respect of a project within the remit of my Department has been formally refused by the Commission.
