Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Operational Programmes.

John Bruton

Question:

187 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the full membership of each of the operational programme monitoring committees; and if she will provide a schedule of all the meetings of such committees that have occurred so far and that are planned under the present arrangement for EU Structural Fund expenditure in Ireland. [1274/98]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney):

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the lead Department for four Structural Funds monitoring committees. Three of these oversee operational programmes and the fourth is responsible for community initiatives. The monitoring committees cover the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development, the Operational Programme for Industrial Development, the Small Business Operational Programme and the Employment and Adapt Community Initiatives. Membership and details of the meetings of these committees are as follows:

The members of the monitoring committee for the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development are Community Workers Co-Operative, Construction Industry Federation, Department of An Taoiseach, Department of Education and Science, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Department of Finance, Department of Health and Children, Employment Equality Agency, ESF Programme Evaluation Unit, European Commission, European Commission Consultant — Tansey, Webster & Associates, FÁS, Irish Business and Employers Confederation, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, National Rehabilitation Board, National Women's Council of Ireland, National Youth Council of Ireland and South East Regional Authority. Meetings on the human resources monitoring committee were held on 7 April 1995, 29 September 1995, 16 April 1996, 30 October 1996, 12 March 1997, 22 April 1997 and 10 October 1997. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 24 April 1998.

The members of the Industry Monitoring Committee are European Commission DG XVI, European Commission DG V, European Commission DG VI, European Commission DG III, European Commission DG XII, European Commission DG XXIII, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Department of Agriculture and Food, Department of Education and Science, An Bord Tráchtála, Crafts Council of Ireland, Shannon Development, Irish Productivity Centre, Údarás na Gaeltachta, IDA Ireland, FORFÁS, Forbairt, FÁS, IBEC, SIPTU, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, EC Business and Innovation Centre and the regional authorities represented by Border Regional Authority. Meetings of the industry monitoring committee were held on 1 March 1995, 18 October 1995, 28 March 1996, 31 October 1996, 20 March 1997, 23 September 1997 and 6 November 1997. The industry monitoring committee normally meets twice a year and will continue to do so at least until the end of the programme in 1999. The next meeting is scheduled for 2 April 1998.

The Members of Employment and Adapt Monitoring Committee are: European Commission DGV, European Commission DGXVI, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, NOW National Co-ordinator, Integra National Co-ordinator, Horizon National Co-ordinator, Youthstart National Co-ordinator, Adapt National Co-ordinator, Employment Co-ordination Unit-WRC, Horizon Support Structure — National Rehabilitation Board, Integra Support Structure — Work Research Co-operative, NOW Support — National Women's Council of Ireland, Youthstart Support Structure — National Youth Council of Ireland, Adapt Support Structure — Léargas — The Exchange Bureau, NSS, Community Workers Co-op, Construction Industry Federation, Department of Education and Science, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Department of Finance, Department of Health, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Employment Equality Agency, FÁS, Irish Business and Employers Confederation, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed, Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, National Youth Council of Ireland, National Youth Federation and the Small Firms Association. Meetings of employment and adapt monitoring committee were held on 25 July 1995, 27 June 1996, 8 November 1996, 27 May 1997 and 13 November 1997. The date of the next meeting has not yet been agreed.

The members of the small business operational programme monitoring committee are: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Finance, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Directorate-General XVI European Commission, Directorate-General XXIII European Commission, Directorate-General V European Commission, Small Business and Services Forum, ICTU, ISME, Small Firms Association, Irish Bankers Federation, Irish Coalition of Services Industries, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, Forbairt (2), An Bord Tráchtála and FÁS.

The secretariat is provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The monitoring committee meets twice each year, that is, in the spring and autumn and will continue to do so for the duration of the programme. The monitoring committee has met on four occasions to date: 10 May 1996, 25 September 1996, 18 March 1997 and 19 November 1997. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in April 1998 at a date to be confirmed.