Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Good Friday Agreement.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

291 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that sufficient funds will be available from his Department through different other departmental structures to finance the Government's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and the different cross-Border funding in 2003 and for the next number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16071/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The moneys made available in my Department's Vote to finance the Government's commitments to the Good Friday Agreement and cross-Border funding relate to the special EU programmes body and the programmes administered by it. The body was established in December 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement. Funds have been provided in this year's Vote to meet the planned requirements of the different programmes, subheads N1 and N2, and the planned costs of administering the body itself subhead N3. The body manages both the PEACE II programme and the INTERREG IIIA programme.

PEACE II is a unique EU funding programme for all of Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland – Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo. PEACE II aims to help Northern Ireland become a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland. The programme runs from 2000 to 2004 and will provide around €707 million for projects of which €141 million will be spent in the Border region.

INTERREG IIIA is an EU Community initiative designed to support cross-Border co-operation, social cohesion and economic development for all of Northern Ireland and the six Border counties of Ireland. The programme aims to address the economic and social disadvantages which can result from the existence of a border. The programme runs from 2000 to 2006 and will provide around €179 million for projects of which €71.5 million will be spent in the Border region.

My Department also provides support to the different sponsor Departments, under whose aegis the respective North/South bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement operate, and to the bodies themselves. This support is co-ordinated by the North/South unit of my Department and deals in particular with matters relating to the corporate governance of the bodies, including approval for their staffing, resourcing, pension scheme, etc. The necessary funding is provided in my Department's administrative budget and is sufficient to meet this function.

The necessary provision for the above programmes and functions from 2004 onwards will, as normal, be considered as part of the annual Estimates deliberations.