Rory O'Hanlon
Question:63 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, which have been made to the European Commission in relation to the protection of objective one status for the Border region post-1999. [10329/97]
Written Answers. - Border Region Funding.
Negotiations on future financing of the EU, including future Structural Funding, will not commence until after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference, which is expected to be in June 1997 at the European Council in Amsterdam. These negotiations are likely to be protracted.
As intimated in reply to previous questions, the Government is developing a strategy for the forthcoming negotiations for the renewal of the Structural Funds post-1999, which will ensure the optimum outcome for Ireland.
In developing this strategy, the Government is assessing all aspects of Ireland's position in relation to eligibility for Structural Funds post-1999, including whether classification of Ireland as one region for Structural Funds purposes continues to be the best policy or whether other approaches, including regionalisation, would be more productive.
The most recent year for which regional GDP data are available is 1991. These figures were published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in November 1996 and show the Border region with a GDP per capita of 81.6 per cent of the State average. The CSO is currently compiling regional accounts for 1993 which are due to be published in the near future. When available, this data will provide more up-to-date information in relation to the status of the Border region which will assist in the process.