Vol. 476 No. 2
290 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals, if any, there are for the mid-term review of the operational programme; if he has met with the consultants who are conducting the review; if not, when he will meet them; if he has made a case for the reallocation of resources as part of the review process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6747/97]
The mid-term evaluation of the fisheries operational programme, 1994-1999, is being undertaken by the external evaluators for the programme, INDECON — International Economic Consultants. This evaluation will feed into the overall mid-term review of the Community Support Framework (CSF). During the evaluation process INDECON have consulted regularly with the Department, the EU Commission, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Forbairt, the Marine Institute and representatives of the fishing industry. The evaluation report has also been considered at a formal meeting of the operational programme monitoring committee. The report, together with the views of the monitoring committee, will feed into, and inform, the overall evaluation of the Community Support Framework currently under way. The case for the allocation of additional resources to the fisheries operational programme in the CSF review process will continue to be pursued over coming months and is being fully informed by the findings of the evaluation report.
