David Andrews
Question:48 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Finance the efforts, if any, that are being made by his Department to develop EU funding strategies to replace the current round of EU Structural Funds. [1449/96]
Written Answers. - EU Funding.
Batt O'Keeffe
Question:76 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland will lose its Objective I status after 1999. [19272/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 76 together.
The Government is monitoring and will continue to monitor all aspects of Ireland's continuing eligibility for Structural Funds after 1999 when the current round of funding expires, including the retention of Objective One status. The Government is developing its strategy for the next round of Structural Fund negotiations to ensure the best possible outcome for Ireland in the negotiations on the financial perspective for the period 2000-2005 which are expected to commence in the second half of 1997. Notwithstanding the improvement in Ireland's relative position within the EU in terms of GDP per capita, since the initiation of Structural Funds, the aim of the effort is to ensure that Ireland will derive the maximum benefit from these EU transfers after 1999. It must be acknowledged, however, that the improvement in Ireland's GDP per capita as a percentage of the EU average is a development to be welcomed and is a tribute to the successful implementation of our stabilisation policies and to the productive use which has been made of the EU Structural Funds.