Vol. 461 No. 3
49 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the current position regarding the subsidised loans for Northern Ireland and the Border counties through the European Investment Bank; the reason these loans have not come on stream in spite of the fact that the initial plans were that they would be available in the final quarter of 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2794/96]
Preparations to launch the interest-subsidy scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises, which is one of the measures included in the Special Support Scheme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland, are almost concluded. There remain a number of matters to be finalised in respect of the operation of the scheme. There has been no undue delay in completing the necessary arrangements, which require a co-ordinated approach by all the parties concerned — the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the national authorities, the intermediary banks who will operate the scheme, and the agents who will assess the projects on behalf of the European Investment Bank and the national authorities on both sides of the Border.
