Martin Cullen
Question:17 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Finance the options facing Ireland in relation to its negotiations on Structural and Cohesion Funds past 1999 with the EU. [7739/97]
Written Answers. - Structural and Cohesion Funding.
The current round of Structural and Cohesion Funding expires at the end of 1999. Negotiations on the future financing of the EU will commence when the intergovernmental conference concludes probably in mid 1997. The detailed negotiations on the Structural and Cohesion Funds will follow on and are likely to be protracted.
The Government is developing its strategy for these negotiations to ensure the best possible outcome for Ireland. Ireland has made very good use of Structural Funds, a fact recognised throughout the Community. However, we still have some way to go before we attain the level of development of the more prosperous regions of the Community. We will in our negotiations with the Commission and the member states strive to ensure that Structural Funds continue to play an important part in achieving the economic and social cohesion which the treaty requires and in consolidating the progress already achieved.