Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 6

Written Answers. - Southern Border Counties Funding.

Bertie Ahern

Question:

31 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine 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 the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

My Department is directly involved with certain measures, funded under the Joint INTERREG Programme for Northern Ireland and Ireland 1994-1999 and the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, which apply specifically in the southern Border counties.

The INTERREG Programme provides for assistance for projects in the marine and inland fisheries areas; £1.5 million in public funding has been provided for these purposes in the period to 1999.

The EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, which was introduced as a direct consequence of the Peace Process, contains a measure which can assist actions of a cross-Border nature between public bodies in the areas of fishing and aquaculture. The public funding provision for the southern Border counties is £0.666 million. In addition, other measures in the Programme may assist fisheries related employment and training, tourism and small business.

The EU assisted programmes, measures and initiatives for which my Department is primarily responsible and which are of relevance to Border counties are the Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-1999, the Ports Measures of the Operational Programme for Transport 1994-1999, the Tourism Angling Measure of the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, the Coastal Protection Measure of the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-1999, and the PESCA Community Initiative 1994-1999. Proposals for assistance under these programmes, measures and initiatives for projects in Border counties are evaluated by reference to the established priorities and criteria, with due regard for the special circumstances of that region.

As indicated by the Taoiseach in replying to Question No. 2 on 7 February 1996, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Carey, will review existing arrangements with a view to recommending whatever steps may be appropriate so that the maximum effectiveness of funding for Border counties is achieved. My Department will co-operate fully with this review in so far as programmes, measures and initiatives for which it is responsible are concerned.