Vol. 575 No. 5
53 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which, in view of the critical need for increased investment along the Border region, he can justify the 5% reduction in the programme for peace and reconciliation; if this reduction came from EU level; the reason his Department did not more strongly oppose this reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/03]
63 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the allocation for the programme for peace and reconciliation has been cut by 5% for 2004; the manner in which this reduction will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28545/03]
84 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which he can justify a cut of 5% in Government funding towards the programme for peace and reconciliation; his views on the impression this gives regarding the Government's commitment to the hard hit Border region where the BMW as a whole is falling far behind the eastern region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28578/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 63 and 84 together.
Deputies can see from the Abridged Estimates Volume that I have secured a net 5% increase in my Department's Vote. This incorporates a 5% increase in funding provisions for community affairs. The BMW region will continue to benefit from my Department's expenditure under these subheads. It will be a matter for Area Development Management Limited and the Combat Poverty Agency, which administer the relevant elements of the programme, to maximise benefit from the expenditure through the prioritisation of the projects selected for funding.
