Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 4

Written Answers. - Border Counties Funding.

Bertie Ahern

Question:

39 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the funds from the EU and other sources available for the southern Border counties; the funds that are additional or consequent on the peace process; and the purposes for which they have been or will be used in each of the years from 1994 to 1996. [3928/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

My Department is involved in the operation of certain measures which apply specifically in the six southern Border counties and are funded under the Joint INTERREG Programme for Northern Ireland and Ireland 1994-99 and the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland 1995-99.

The INTERREG Programme contains specific measures aimed at assisting agriculture and forestry and for which £3 million in public funding has been provided up to 1999. Measures approved for funding in the period 1994 to 1996 are in respect of projects which relate to the enhancement of the animal and avian health status in the region. In addition most of the other measures in the programme will contribute to the development of agriculture and rural development in the Border counties. The total package for this programme in the six southern Border counties is £115 million of which £72 million is EU funding.

The EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation was introduced as a direct consequence of the peace process. The programme contains a measure which can assist actions of a cross-Border nature between public bodies in the areas of agriculture and forestry. The public funding provision for the southern Border counties is £0.666 million up to 1997. Under this measure a cross-Border anti-farm source pollution initiative is being developed. In addition other measures in the support programme may assist agriculture related employment and training, tourism, and small businesses. The total public funding under this programme is £64 million up to 1997 in respect of the six southern Border counties.

A range of other EU assisted national programmes and schemes applies to the Border counties. Under the Leader Programme eight groups operating in the Border counties or in parts of them, have been successful in securing a total of £16.361 million public funding for the period 1994-99. There is also a provision of £1.5 million for transnational co-operation e.g. with Northern Ireland which could be of assistance to groups in the Border counties.

The funding breakdown of the other national programmes and schemes by county is not readily available. These include the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry (OPARDF) 1994-99 and the various schemes operated under the Common Agricultural Policy.

The question of re-focusing expenditure under the OPARDF in the Border counties to support the peace process is being kept under review by the monitoring committee of that programme.