Vol. 519 No. 5
78 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance when the operational programmes for social inclusion, promised in the national development plan, will be published and put into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14265/00]
Each of the two regional operational programmes of the national development plan contains a social inclusion sub-programme. In April, both programmes were approved by the respective managing authorities, namely, the regional assemblies for the Southern and Eastern and the Border, Midland and Western Regions, and were forwarded to the European Commission before the end of April. Following Commission approval, the operational programmes will be published. However, measures in the social inclusion sub- programme are currently being implemented, pending Commission approval of the regional operational programmes.
Over the term of the national development plan, there will be significant expenditure, totalling almost £1,060 million in 1999 prices, in both regions under the social inclusion sub-programmes. This will cover measures such as child care, local development, youth services, community development and family support, equality and crime prevention which will have a major impact on the multiple causes of social exclusion in disadvantaged urban and rural areas in both regions.
