Bertie Ahern
Question:56 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the EU funding received by his Department in 1996; the funding it will receive in 1997; and the relevant funds and budget lines under which such funding is received. [8046/97]
Written Answers. - EU Funding.
EU funding relative to my Department comprises funding for those elements of the operational programmes for which my Department has direct responsibility — the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development, 1994 to 1999, the Operational Programme for the implementation of the URBAN initiative in Ireland, 1996 to 1999, and Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland, 1995 to 1999. In addition, EU contributions are received for a number of specific projects relating to the Communicating Europe Initiative, the EU Presidency and the commemoration of the Famine.
Details of funding are contained in the following schedule.
Estimated EU Funding receipts under the Operational Programmes by the Department
|
Actual 1996 (IR£) |
Projected 1997 (IR£) |
|||
|
Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development(Subprogramme 2) |
ERDF |
3,559,812 |
7,168,902 |
To Area Development Management Ltd. via the Central Exchequer FundTo Area Development Management Ltd. |
|
ESF |
445,180 |
7,623,727 |
||
|
Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development |
ERDF |
1,030,426 |
1,232,962 |
To Central Exchequer Fund |
|
(Subprogramme 4) |
ESF |
102,718 |
637,241 |
To Appropriations-in-Aid of the Department of the Taoiseach Vote |
|
URBAN Initiative |
ERDFESF |
712,6870 |
1,548,4442,261,130 |
To Central Exchequer FundTo Appropriations-in-Aid of the Taoiseach Vote |
|
Programme for Peace and Reconciliation |
ERDFESF |
390,276334,000 |
4,101,6292,493,694 |
To Central Exchequer FundTo Appropriations-in-Aid of the Taoiseach Vote |
|
Total |
6,575,099 |
27,067,729 |
The drawdown of receipts is linked to the programmes' annual financial commitments by the EU and the rate of expenditure at local level.
Funding of Specific Projects
1.Communicating Europe Initiative: The European Commission agreed to support a number of projects carried out under this initiative during 1996. The particular projects include the production of a weekly radio programme for local independent radio, the production of a television programme on Ireland's EU Presidency, the production of a wall chart calendar and the publication of a guide to European funding. The total funds received from the Commission during 1996 was £21,500. A sum of £59,000 relating to projects carried out in 1996 is due in 1997. The EU Commission will continue its support for the weekly radio programme during 1997. Decisions have not been made on any new projects to be funded in 1997.
2.EU Presidency
Cultural Event: The European Commission supported the cultural event held in Temple Bar at the opening of Ireland's EU Presidency. The amount of funding received was £35,000 — £17,500 in 1996 and £17,500 in 1997. This Department contributed an amount of £75,000 during 1996.
Local Development Conference: The European Commission provided half of the costs of the Local Development Conference organised by the Department as part of the EU Presidency. The total contribution from the EU amounts to approximately £57,500.
3.Commemoration of the Famine:
The European Community Humanitarian Office — ECHO — will fund up to 87 per cent of the cost of a Famine publication, "Ireland's Famine: Commemoration and Awareness". An amount of £7,879 was received in January 1997. The balance of the contribution, a similar amount, is due later this year.