Rory O'Hanlon
Question:166 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance when the new INTERREG and peace and reconciliation programmes will be established; when funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13017/01]
Written Answers - INTERREG Programmes.
The new Programme for Peace and Reconciliation was approved by the European Commission on 22 March 2001. The next phase of the programme's development involves the production of the programme complement. The programme complement sets out a range of implementation issues, including the method for delivery of funds, detailed measure descriptions, and project selection criteria. This phase of development is at an advanced stage and must be completed by the middle of June next. My expectation is that funding under the programme will be released shortly thereafter.
In relation to INTERREG, I am assuming the Deputy is primarily interested in the programme with Northern Ireland for the period to the end of 2006. Proposals for this INTERREG IIIA programme were lodged with the European Commission last November following approval by the North-South Ministerial Council. Authorities North and South are awaiting the formal response of the Commission to these proposals before detailed negotiations can open. I and my counterpart in the North-South Ministerial Council, Mr. Mark Durkan MLA, Minister of Finance and Personnel in the Northern Ireland Executive, are anxious that these negotiations be completed quickly. In a similar manner to the peace pro gramme, detailed implementation procedures will be contained in a programme complement and this phase of development can only be completed once the programme is agreed. I am, accordingly, hopeful that funding under the INTERREG programme will be available later this year.
Including matching national funds, 141.3 million euro has been allocated to the Border region under the Peace and Reconcilation Programme 2000-2004. The South's contribution to the Ireland-Northern Ireland INTERREG IIIA Programme 2000-2006 is 71.5 million euro, including matching national funds. Both programmes are being managed by the special EU programmes body and will be implemented by a range of Government Departments, intermediary funding bodies and locally based agencies.