John Gormley
Question:54 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the Exchequer implications of the proposed regionalisation of the country for EU Structural Funds' purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23550/98]
Written Answers - EU Funding.
Question:
63 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the measures, if any, he has taken to ensure that pressing social needs in urban areas are catered for during negotiations on the next round of EU Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19616/98]
Trevor Sargent
Question:64 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the implications for the delivery of public services generally of the proposed regionalisation of the country for EU Structural Funds' purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23551/98]
Andrew Boylan
Question:66 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to match the British Government's commitment to retaining Objective one status for the six counties of Northern Ireland with a similar commitment to the six Border counties of this country as part of the Irish Government and EU's support for the Belfast Agreement. [22399/98]
Dan Neville
Question:75 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Finance the reason the average weekly disposable family income is not used as a measure when considering proposals for including areas under Objective One status; his views on whether it is appropriate to use the GDP in view of the fact it is the higher measure where it can be shown to be the lower measure in other states; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, if this formula is used, the mid-west has lower disposable family income than the west or the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22397/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:79 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that the per capita GDP is the most accurate and appropriate measure of income for purposes of possible regionalisation in the context of the next round of EU Structural Funds; if overhead subsidies, including many farm payments, for example headage payments, are not included in measuring income in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23668/98]
Trevor Sargent
Question:257 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the average per capita income of adults living in the 13 counties scheduled to lose EU Objective One status in the proposed regionalisation initiative being pursued by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20957/98]
Trevor Sargent
Question:260 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the demographic implications of the adoption of a subregional strategy for EU infrastructural spending purposes in view of the population drift towards the eastern seaboard and the Dublin area, in particular, over recent decades. [20064/98]
Trevor Sargent
Question:262 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the average per capita income of adults living in the 13 counties scheduled to maintain EU Objective One status in the proposed regionalisation initiative being pursued by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20956/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:273 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to raise the issue of regionalisation; the consequences, if any, this may have for the funding Ireland can obtain under the next round of EU Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19362/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:274 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, the Government may have for regionalisation; the consequences, if any, this may have for the funding Ireland can obtain under the next round of EU Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19361/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:283 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure that Ireland maintains maximum benefit from EU funding in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23885/98]
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:293 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance when he will make a final decision on the regionalisation of the country for Objective One status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23879/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 63, 64, 66, 75, 79, 257, 260, 262, 273, 274, 283 and 293 together.
The Government decided today to pursue an application to EUROSTAT, the Statistical Service of the European Commission, for a change from Ireland's current status as a single region to one comprising two regions. The application involves reclassification of Ireland's statistical regions in the European Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units. One region would comprise the current sub-regions of the Border, west — to include counties Clare and Kerry — and midlands, and the other region would comprise the rest of the country.
I refer Deputies to a press release which is being issued today by the Government Information Services, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
My lengthy address to the House on 10 November last opening the debate on regionalisation dealt in depth with the issue. I propose in today's replies to pick up only on points not already covered in that statement.
I do not envisage that the regionalisation proposal will have significant implications for the overall delivery of public services. The Government is, however, committed to a revised regional structure in the content of regionalisation and will discuss this further with the existing regional authorities.
I believe that regionalisation will assist more balanced economic growth, thereby helping to contribute to more balanced population growth.