Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Support Framework.

John Bruton

Question:

104 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 19 November 1997 on the possible decommissioning of 123 MECU allocated in the Community Support Framework of the EU for Ireland for the Luas project the policy considerations, if any, that will influence her in making this decision; the correspondence, if any, she has had with the European Commission about the matter; if she will publish this correspondence; the implications of these savings or decommitting of funds for potential beneficiaries of the expenditure; when the Community Support Framework monitoring committee is likely to meet to discuss this matter; the effect of this decision on those expected to benefit from this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22685/97]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I am not prepared to speculate now as to whether or not the Luas funding will be reallocated, or on the impact of decisions which might or might not be made next year.

The question of reallocating Structural Funds will be a matter for the Community Support Framework monitoring committee which includes representatives of the national authorities and the EU Commission, I understand that a CSF monitoring committee meeting has been scheduled for June 1998. However, the review will commence in the spring as agreed by the CSF monitoring committee.

Among the issues likely to be taken into account in the review will be the recommendations of the underground study, the likely implementation timetable for the light rail system, and the optimal use of the EU funding in the period to 2001.

While the Commission has been kept informed of developments at various meetings with my officials and I have recently discussed the issue with Commissioner Wufl-Mathies, I have not had correspondence with the Commission on the matter.