Vol. 462 No. 3
47 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Finance whether Ireland's receipts under EU operational programmes and other EU initiatives will be reduced before the end of the decade; if so, the amounts by which they will be decreased; and the likely impact on growth and investment. [4608/96]
The current round of Structural Funding which includes the Operational Programmes under the Community Support Framework and the Community initiatives is in place until the end of 1999. While the Government is monitoring all aspects relating to Ireland's position as a beneficiary of Structural Funds after 1999, it would not be appropriate to speculate, at this time, on what the likely outcome of the Structural Funds negotiations for the post-1999 period will be. Nonetheless, it can be taken that Ireland will continue to benefit from Structural Funds after 1999. The Government's objective will be to ensure that Ireland obtains the optimum result from the post-1999 Structural Fund negotiations and that the economic achievements which have lead to the improvement in our relative position within the EU are further maintained and continued.
