I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 102 together.
The current programmes under the operational programme for local urban and rural development have made significant achievements in combating disadvantage and it is the Government's intention that the new national development plan will build further on these successes.
Under the new national development plan £420 million has been provided to continue and augment the valuable work done and activities engaged in by the area based partnership companies and community groups, local drug task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund. This provision represents a 50% increase over the levels of expenditure available to the existing programmes in these fields. This £420 million is the largest single allocation from the £1 billion earmarked for expenditure under the regional operation programmes in a special subprogramme for social inclusion.
This significant increase in funding is a clear expression of the Government's confidence in the value of the work done under these programmes. On 3 December I will meet PLANET, the representative body of the area based partnership companies, to discuss the future of the area based partnership programmes. The proposed areas for Structural and Cohesion Fund co-financing are outlined in the national development plan pending agreement with the European Commission. As the plan stands the social inclusion measures under the aegis of my Department will be fully supported by the Exchequer.