Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Support Framework.

John Bruton

Question:

344 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [22648/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Assistance from the EU Structural Funds for the period 1994-99 is provided to my Department in respect of specific measures in support of the human resources development priorities identified in the Community Support Framework 1994-99. Aid due in respect of the final claims 1994, 1995 and 1996 has been received together with almost all of the 1997 advances.

In each of the years 1994-96 underspends which had arisen on a number of measures were re-profiled to the later years of the CSF. Any underspends which may arise during 1997 will not be finalised until the completion of the final claims process in 1998. A number of different factors were responsible for the underspends which occurred on various measures during the period 1994-96.

The late approval of the Human Resources Operational Programme in 1994 delayed the incareer development unit in my Department in the organisation of the various training programmes for the first and second level education sectors while a teachers' dispute in 1995 had a substantial adverse effect on the delivery of training in that year.

In relation to the certification measure underspends to end of 1996 were due to lower expenditure incurred by the NCVA than anticipated. The establishment and expansion of the work of TEASTAS together with the introduction of certification at foundation level and level one by the NCVA will increase expenditure during the final years of the CSF 1994-99.

Underspends under the graduate training measure of the industry operational programme were caused by the delay in establishing the measure in the regional technical college sector until late 1995.

In 1995 an underspend occurred on the vocational preparation and training (VPT) measure due to a temporary decrease in the number of trainees entering VPT arising from the expansion of the transition year option in second level schools. This underspend has been allocated to the early school leavers following the mid-term review of the CSF earlier this year.

Progress in developing actions under the equal opportunities measure was slower than anticipated in 1995 and 1996 while the measure was not included in the operational programme for 1994. Under the vocational training infrastructure measure the late approval of the human resources operational programme did not allow capital commitments to be entered into at a sufficient level in 1994, to prevent an underspending occurring. In 1995 while total expenditure was on target, underspends on European Regional Development Fund supported projects were matched by corresponding overspending on EFTA supported projects. Any underspends in 1996 were caused by planning, design and site acquisition difficulties. The measure also includes a capital investment programme at third level and expenditure is generally on target.

Reports are prepared twice yearly for the operational programme monitoring committees together with applications for financial transfers of underspends as required. It is a matter for the relevant monitoring committees to consider making available reports as appropriate.

1994 Underspends (ECU)	Reallocations 1995 to 1999
Measure	Underspend	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Training of Trainers	539,566	312,950	56,654	56,654	56,654	56,654
Certification	145,723		145,723
Graduate Training	552,534		138,134	138,134	138,133	138,133
Infrastructure	8,379,197	4,217,650	1,784,045	2,377,502

1995 Underspends (ECU)	Reallocations 1996 to 1999
Measure	Underspend	1996	1997	1998	1999
Training of Trainers	2,052,025	513,006	513,006	513,006	513,007
Certification	340,948	340,948
Graduate Training	274,565	68,641	68,641	68,641	68,642
VPT	2,340,297		2,340,297
Equality	393,708		393,708
Vocational Infrastructure	2,289,000	2,289,000

1996 Underspends (ECU)	Reallocations 1997 to 1999
Measure	Underspend	1997	1998	1999
Certification	482,426		241,213	241,213
Graduate Training	195,021		97,511	97,510
Equality	638,045	26,876	190,585	420,584
Vocational Infrastructure	4,706,569	1,162,729	1,953,344	1,590,496

John Bruton

Question:

345 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [22662/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The mid-term evaluation of the Structural Funds pointed to the need for alternative sources of funding for courses supported through the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development, under the Advanced Technical Skills measure. In the context of the consideration of the mid-term review, it was decided that funding of the Advanced Technical Skills measure along with others, should be reduced to facilitate increased spending on other measures, notably early school leavers. The implications of the reduced funds for a restructuring of the Advanced Technical Skills programme is under active consideration by my Department in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority.

It is noted that the mid-term evaluation of the Community Support Framework 1994-99 proposed that the issue of cost recovery in general should be explored at operational programme level.

In accordance with the requirements of the Government procurement procedures and those of the European Union, the award of contracts by my Department or bodies under its aegis for projects which are supported by the Community Support Framework follow an open competitive tendering procedure.

John Bruton

Question:

346 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [22680/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The cost benefit analyses referred to in the report following the mid-term evaluation of the Community Support Framework 1994-99 did not relate specifically to projects under the aegis of my Department.

My Department provides data twice-yearly in accordance with pre-determined performance indicators to the Monitoring Committee of the Operational Programmes for Human Resources Development, the Operational Programme for Industry and the Operational Programme for Tourism and the Community Support Framework.