Vol. 485 No. 2
299 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has received money under the Community Support Framework; the underspendings of allocated funds, if any, there have been under the Community Support Framework in the areas for which his Department is responsible; if a report giving details of the reasons for underspending has been prepared for the monitoring committee; and, if so, if he will publish this report. [22642/97]
300 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, which are being taken to increase cost recovery or provide for more competition in the delivery of services in accordance with a decision taken in the context of the mid-term review of Structural Funds in relation to funds received by his Department, or bodies under the aegis of his Department, from the European Structural Funds; and, if so, the specific new measures, if any, which are being undertaken for this purpose. [22656/97]
301 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, he will take to improve the quality of cost benefit analyses in relation to funds received by his Department or by bodies under the aegis of his Department under the Community Support Framework in view of the criticisms of the quality of some cost benefit analysis arising during the mid-term review of the Structural Funds. [22672/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 299-301, inclusive, together.
My Department is in receipt of EU Structural Funding to benefit the training of offenders for the period 1994-99. To date, all funds that have been allocated to this project have been drawn down on the due dates. Following the mid-term review of the EU Structural Funding programme, with which my Department co-operated fully, an initiative has been undertaken to address the issue of linkages between the activity of training for offenders and education and labour market participation after their release from prison. I am very pleased to say that this initiative has itself been funded by an additional allocation of EU Structural Funding during the course of the mid-term review. It has also been accepted as an innovative project within the EU INTEGRA programme for the period 1998-99. The question of cost benefit analysis will arise as a matter of course in carrying out this initiative.
In addition, my Department also receives funding for the NOW (New Opportunities for Women) Initiative. The funds for the NOW Initiative are disbursed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As the Deputy's question relate to aspects of the Community Support Framework and resonses to the substantive issues raised therein, in so far as the matters concern the NOW Initiative, information will be furnished by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in her answer to identical questions put down to her Department.
