Vol. 466 No. 6
1 Dr. McDaid asked the Taoiseach the number of organisations established to deal with cross-Border projects; the names of these organisations; the funding programmes available to the Border regions; and his views on whether these programmes should be co-ordinated. [10570/96]
There is only one organisation specifically established to deal with cross-Border projects. The International Fund for Ireland was established in 1986 by the Irish and British Governments with the aim of promoting economic and social advance and encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between all communities throughout Ireland. The fund is financed by international contributions and it is administered by an independent board. It administers ten main programmes: disadvantaged areas, investment companies, flagship projects, community initiatives, business enterprise, tourism, urban development, rural development, science and technology and wider horizons.
The joint Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG Programme for 1994-99 is a multi-sectoral one with the two major objectives of creating and developing networks for cross-Border co-operation and the economic regeneration of the Border region. The Departments of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Marine, Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Tourism and Trade, Enterprise and Employment, Education and Finance in conjunction with their counterparts in Northern Ireland, implement measures under the programme and the Department of Finance oversees the whole programme.
Under the programme the Minister for Enterprise and Employment has recently approved a total of 24 projects for support of £2.20 million with a similar level of ESF funding being provided through the Northern authorities for projects in the North. The projects were selected from more than 100 projects submitted to the Department of Enterprise and Employment and to the Training and Employment Authority in Northern Ireland. A joint North-South working group assessed the projects and attempted to ascertain those projects that most clearly fulfilled the criteria relating to impact on Northern Ireland and the Border counties. The Department of Enterprise and Employment will call for further projects for the 1997-99 phase of the initiative early next year.
The aim of the Peace and Reconciliation Programme is to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation. Funding is targeted mainly at those who have been most affected by the conflict. The programme contains a number of measures intended to contribute directly to economic development. Particular emphasis has been given to measures which promote social inclusion. This theme extends across all the measures under the programme and there is also a specific social inclusion sub-programme which accounts for 30 per cent of total funds available under the programme.
Area Development Management and the Combat Poverty Agency jointly administer 11 measures under the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. Co-operation North, a registered charity, was established in 1979 to act as a vehicle to research and develop methods of increasing communication and co-operation between people in the North and the South. In association with IBEC/CBI(NI), Co-operation North acts as an intermediary body for Measure 3.1 -Cross-Border Business and Cultural Linkages. County council led task forces have been established in each county to boost the regeneration of Border areas affected by the conflict and will receive allocations from the Department for the Environment shortly.
Apart from these programmes which are specific to the Border counties, funding is also available under the full range of Exchequer-funded programmes that address the needs of disadvantaged areas, such as the Department of Social Welfare's Community Development Programme. I am circulating in the Official Report a list of EU-funded operational programmes and Community initiatives which are national programmes under which funding is also available to the Border region, in addition to a list of the Leader groups, county enterprise boards and area partnership companies which are in place in the Border region.
The Taoiseach has acknowledged that the numerous sources of funding can be confusing and feels there is a need for co-ordination to ensure that the maximum effectiveness of the funding is achieved. That is why on 7 February this year I was asked to chair a task force to examine funding arrangements in the Border counties, and I expect the task force to report its recommendations to the Government this month.
1. The following operational programmes, which are nationwide programmes, provide funding to the Border region: Industry; Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry; Fisheries; Tourism; Local Urban and Rural Development; Community Development Programme; Human Resources; Transport; Economic Infrastructure and Environmental Services.
Funding under the following Community Initiatives which again are nationwide programmes, is also available to the Border region:
PESCA; RETEX; LEADER II; SME's; EMPLOYMENT; ADAPT.
2. Leader companies, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, are in place in the Border region as follows:
Donegal —
Inishowen Community Development Group, IDA Industrial Estate, Malin Road, Carndonagh, County Donegal.
Sligo —
Western Rural Development Company (which also covers parts of Mayo) Ballina Road, Tubbercurry, County Sligo.
Sligo-Leitrim —
Arigna Catchment Area Community Co. (which also covers parts of Roscommon) Enterprise Centre, Arigna, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.
Cavan-Monaghan —
Cavan-Monaghan Rural Development Co-op Society, Agriculture College, Ballyhaise, County Cavan.
Louth —
Louth Rural Development Company c/o Ardee Development, Cappocksgreen, Ardee, County Louth.
The offshore islands in this region are represented by Comhdáil Oileann na hÉireann, Runaíocht, Beal an Mhuirthead. Contae Mhuigh Eo.. The Gaeltacht areas are represented by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, Baile an Fheirtearaigh, Trá Lí, Contae Chiarraí.
3. Partnership Companies in the Border region:
Donegal —
Donegal Local Development Company, Ballyraine, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Pairtíocht Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill, MFG Teoranta, Na Doirí Beaga, Contae Dún na nGall.
Donegal Inishowen Partnership Company, Ballyloskey Road, Carndonagh, County Donegal.
Sligo —
County Sligo Leader Partnership Company, c/o Teagasc Office, Riverside, Sligo.
Leitrim —
County Leitrim Partnership Board, Sligo Training Centre, FÁS, Ballytivnan, Sligo.
Cavan —
Address not available. The board has been established, however no chairperson has been elected as yet.
Monaghan —
Monaghan Partnership Board, c/o NRB Magnet House, Farnham Street, Cavan.
Louth —
Drogheda Partnership Company, 12A North Quay, Drogheda, County Louth.
Dundalk Employment Partnership Ltd., Carlton House, Dublin Street, Dundalk, County Louth.
4. County Enterprise Boards:
Donegal County Enterprise Board, c/o Donegal County Council, Country House, Lifford, County Donegal.
Sligo County Enterprise Board, Court House, Teeling Street, Sligo.
Leitrim County Enterprise Board, Parklane House, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.
Cavan County Enterprise Board, c/o Cavan County Council, Courthouse, Cavan.
Monaghan County Enterprise Board, c/o Monaghan County Council, Court House, Monaghan.
Louth County Enterprise Board, Jocelyn House, Jocelyn Street, Dundalk, County Louth.
I thank the Minister for his detailed reply but I would like to tease it out with him. While the £2.2 million allocated to the 24 INTERREG projects is welcome none has gone to County Donegal on this occasion. The southern Border counties have borne the brunt of economic depression resulting from the troubles and it has not always been easy to defend our position.
We must proceed by way of questions at this time.
Does the Minister agree the southern Border counties have suffered greatly in the past 25 years? Is the Minister aware that 16 only of 421 American companies in the country are in the Border counties? Is the Minister aware that on Thursday last a Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives asking the President to enter into a trade agreement with Northern Ireland and the southern Border counties to establish a free trade zone between Northern Ireland and the Border counties? Will the Government support this measure?
This is news to me. I am glad Deputy McDaid has extensive resources in the United States. At Question Time last week he informed me that another Bill restricting investment was introduced in the House of Representatives.
It is the same one.
I am not aware that this Bill has been put to the House of Representatives but on this occasion as on the previous occasion I will ask the Department of Foreign Affairs to inquire into what legislation is proposed and when I have the details I will reply to the Deputy.
As a recently appointed Minister with responsibility for the Border counties I am sure the Minister of State will want to keep himself informed. Is the Minister of State aware that the political parties in Northern Ireland and the British Government are aware of this measure because it was raised by John Hume on the floor of the House of Commons and as far back as 3 January 1996 in an article in The University of Ulster publication. It is estimated that a free trade zone along the Border would generate an additional $750 million for the economy which would be additional revenue for the UK and the Republic. Will the Minister look at this matter?
I have to dissuade the Deputy from making a speech or letting us have information rather than seeking it.
The Minister of State needs to be informed.
I have every sympathy with the people who have suffered in the Border counties. Studies have been conducted and recommendations made and I am responsible for ensuring that the operational programmes listed in the reply are co-ordinated properly and the money is spent in time so that we will be able to report considerable progress at the mid-term review.
In the meantime I am interested in any reasonable proposal on Border areas from Deputy McDaid and I share his anxieties. Should he make another viable proposal, I will be glad to have it investigated and ask the responsible Minister for an official reply on the matter.
Does the Minister of State accept that people in the Border areas are somewhat mesmerised by the number of organisations and bodies dispensing funds? We have the Delors package, Area Development Management and the Combat Poverty Agency administering funds. Does he accept it would be preferable to have the tried and trusted vehicle for development, the local authorities who have been bypassed by successive Governments, administer these funds in the Border areas?
Does he accept there is a need for proper industrial infrastructure in the six southern Border counties, particularly those in the middle? Does he agree much of the money available under the Delors package could be channelled into industrial infrastructure to create much needed jobs in the area?
As I explained on other occasions initiatives taken by the county council have been dealt with by this programme which we inherited.
The Government did not inherit the new role of Combat Poverty Agency-ADM.
The proliferation of dispensing bodies was agreed with the European Union. The Government is examining the role of local authorities and when the report on local authorities is available I am sure the Deputy will find it very interesting. Local authorities will have the power to take more initiatives when this report is finalised.
I asked about industrial infrastructure.
As a member of the Border Regional Authority I would point out that a seminar will take place in Donegal on Friday and Saturday of this week to report to all concerned in the Border areas on the spending of the £48 million available to the Border regions.
Will the Minister of State agree that the problems have been caused by the violence of the past 25 years and that we should collectively suggest to the IRA that it call another ceasefire to encourage potential industrialists to set up in the region? Will he further agree that the £10 million allocated for the Border areas has been administered collectively by the local authorities and other interested bodies in the region?
On the distribution of funding, the percentage share of the Border counties is 14.74 per cent or £3,846 per person as compared with a national average of £3,338. There is, therefore, a bias in favour of the Border areas in the distribution of funds. As I was at pains to point out to Deputy Ahern, both today and on numerous other occasions, we have inherited most of the programme which was negotiated principally by his colleagues as part of the Delors package. I am glad the support programme is getting under way and the Department of Enterprise and Employment was in a position to announce the projects in recent days.
Is the Minister of State aware that the east Border region committee, comprising representatives of four councils, two on each side of the Border, has been working for 25 years on a shoestring budget, although it has received some funding in recent times? It would be an ideal vehicle to co-ordinate the disbursement of funds in Border areas. Will the Minister of State seriously consider assisting this committee?
When the Government receives the report of the task force and gives its opinion I will pursue the Deputy's view that there are other more efficient vehicles available for the distribution of funds. This would fall to be considered as part of the mid-term review due to commence at the beginning of July.
