Vol. 512 No. 4
100 Ms Clune asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures in the national development plan under which projects in receipt of funding under the New Opportunities for Women programme will be able to apply for funding in view of the fact EU funding will not continue beyond 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26392/99]
The conclusion phase of the current 1994-99 round of ESF funding means that EU moneys will cease to be committed at the end of 1999. However, continued European Social Fund support in the Structural Funds period 2000-06 will continue to play an important role in the development of employment and human resources initiatives over that period. The national development plan refers in chapter 14 to the prospects for Ireland's involvement in the new proposed EU initiatives in the next round. I would encourage projects funded under the existing ESF funded initiatives to fully exploit any opportunities available under the new EU initiatives outlined in the plan such as the new EQUAL initiative which will be co-ordinated nationally by my Department. Total expenditure allocated under the Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme referred to in chapter 5 amounts to £12.6 billion. I expect organisations and groups previously funded under the NOW programme and other strands of the community EMPLOYMENT initiative to seek funding under this programme and under a number of other measures proposed in the social inclusion, human resources and employment sections of the plan. Other measures such as the social economy programme should provide further support for community groups and enterprises.
