Vol. 485 No. 2
329 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation 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. [22643/97]
My Department receives funding under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-9, the Operational Programme for Local, Urban and Rural Development and the URBAN Initiative. Expenditure under some of the constituent sub-programmes has fallen behind the initial financial profile, largely deriving from the nature of some of the sub-programmes themselves and as a result of the time-lag that normally occurs as between when commitments are made and actual up-take of expenditure commences. Following the mid-term review of the Community Support Framework, each monitoring committee will review significant underspends at each of their meetings in 1998 and 1999 and will report to the CSF national monitoring committee in the matter. Consistent with its overall management role for their programmes, my Department will prepare draft reports in advance of those meetings but the question of publication, which is a matter in the first instance for that committee, does not arise until the reports have been considered, decisions taken and finalised.
Generally, however, I am confident that all programmes under my Department's auspices will fully meet their spend targets by programme end.
330 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation 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. [22657/97]
The mid-term review of the Community Support Framework recommended that the monitoring committee for the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 examine the scope to increase cost recovery for training provided under the programme. The issue is still under review with the European Commission and it is expected that a conclusion will be reached early in 1998.
331 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation 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. [22673/97]
Under the terms agreed with the European Commission only three projects submitted to date for consideration for European Regional Development Fund grant assistnce have been above the threshold requiring a cost benefit analysis, all under [the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99]. In two of these cases, the cost benefit analysis was commissioned in accordance with agreed procedures by Bord Fáilte as implementing agency for sub-programme two (product development) while, in the third case, the analysis was commissioned by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, as implementing Department for Sub-Programme one (natural and cultural tourism). In each case the cost benefit analysis was carried out in accordance with Commission guidelines to the satisfaction of the commissioning body.
More generally, the CSF evaluation unit under the Department of Finance has been examining the question of cost benefit analysis in the light of comments in the mid-term review of CSF programmes and I understand that this unit will be issuing guidelines on the matter for the benefit of Departments and agencies.
