Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 6

Written Answers. - INTERREG II Programme.

Bertie Ahern

Question:

33 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an assessment of the success to date of the INTERREG II programme; and if all EU and other moneys earmarked for the Border counties are in fact going to them. [4287/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The joint Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG programme 1994-99 covers all of Northern Ireland, except Belfast, and the Border counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo. The programme is divided into five sub-programmes covering: regional development, human resources development, infrastructure, agriculture-fisheries-forestry and environmental protection. The programme was approved by the Commission in February 1995. Over 930 applications have been received of which 200 are cross-Border in nature.

Projects are assessed by joint working groups on the basis of their compliance with the objectives of the programme, cross-Border co-operation and the economic regeneration of Border regions, and the more detailed requirements of the individual sub-programmes, grants are approved on the basis of projects submitted and funding is not determined on a county basis.

The most recent data show that over 500 of the applications related to projects in the Border counties. This figure includes 76 joint projects which applied through partners in those counties. Two hundred and eleven of these applications have been approved and almost £43 million in EU funding has been committed to them. The total value of these projects is over £83 million.

At present the programme is undergoing a mid-term review by independent consultants in accordance with the requirements of the programme. Their report will address the effectiveness of the programme to date in meeting its objectives and its impact on economic and other indicators for the region. The joint monitoring committee will consider the report at its meeting in June and will take any necessary action to ensure that the programme remains on course to meet its objectives and expenditure targets over the remainder of its time period.