Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
Bernard Allen
Question:
154
Mr. Allen
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the amount of money which has been allocated and spent to date by her Department in each county under the national development plan.
[26533/01]
My Department is the designated managing authorities for two of the operational programmes under the national development plan. These are the productive sector operational programme and the employment and human resources development operational programme. My Department is also responsible for a number of measures under the regional operational programmes. Measures in the operational programmes are administered by the State agencies under the aegis of my Department. Expenditure broken down at county level is not available. The information below shows the expenditure allocated and spent in the two regions.
As regards the southern and eastern region, under the productive sector operational programme, the agencies involved in implementing measures are IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development. The allocation of spending in the southern and eastern region by these agencies in 2000 was 264.1 million and of this 38.2 million was spent. The allocation for the full year 2001 is 477 million and provisional returns from the agencies indicate that 78.6 million has been spent to end June 2001.
While expenditure, under the productive sector operational programme by the development agencies has been less than forecast, their expenditure on investment and other programmes overall is on target. There is a number of reasons for the low expenditure on the productive sector operational programme. Expenditure was still continuing in 2000-01 in respect of commitments made up to the end of 1999 under the industry operational programme 1994-99. In addition, there was a considerable delay in a number of measures in obtaining State aid approval from the European Commission. Also with new schemes there is an inevitable time-lag from the launch of schemes to the receipt and evaluation of proposals and the incurring of expenditure. It is anticipated that the level of expenditure under the programme will come on target over the next two years.
Under the employment and human resources development operational programme the agencies involved in implementing measures are FÁS and Enterprise Ireland. The allocation for spending in the southern and eastern region under the operational programme by these agencies in 2000 was 636.91 million and of this 514.09 million was spent. The allocation for the full year 2001 is 636.67 million and provisional returns from the agencies indicate that 285.931 million has been spent to end June 2001.
Under the regional operational programmes the County Enterprise Boards are responsible for implementing the measure. The allocation for spending in the southern and eastern region in 2000 was 18.9 million and of this 18.6 million was spent. The allocation for the full year 2001 is 20.1 million of which 8.8 million has been spent to end June 2001.
As regards the Border, midland and western region, under the productive sector operational programme the agencies involved in implementing measures are IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development. The allocation of spending in the BMW region by these agencies in 2000 was 158 million and of this 8.2 milllion was spent. The allocation for spending in 2001 is 203.7 million and provisional returns from the agencies indicate that 21.2 million has been spent to end June 2001.
Again expenditure, under the productive sector operational programme by the development agencies has been less than forecast, their expenditure on investment and other programmes overall is on target and again the same reasons apply as in the southern and eastern region. There was a considerable delay in a number of measures in obtaining State aid approval from the European Commission. Also with new schemes, there is an inevitable time lag from the launch of schemes to the receipt and evaluation of proposals and the incurring of expenditure. In addition, expenditure was still continuing in 2000-01 in respect of commitment made up to the end of 1999 under the industry operational programme 1994-99. It is anticipated that the level of expenditure under the programme will increase over the next two years.
Under the employment and human resources development operational programme, the agencies involved in implementing measures are FÁS and Enterprise Ireland. The allocation for spending in the BMW region under the operational programme by these agencies in 2000 was 247.69 million and of this 220.11 million was spent. The allocation for spending in 2001 is 242.63 million and provisional returns from the agencies indicate that 116.5 million has been spent to end June 2001.
Under the regional operational programmes the county enterprise boards are responsible for implementing the measure. The allocation for spending in the BMW region in 2000 was 11 million and of this 10.8 million was spent. The allocation for spending for the full year 2001 is 10.8 million of which 4.8 million has been spent to end June 2001.
