Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2006
290 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Finance the cohesion funds received by Ireland in the years 2001 to 2007; the percentage of these funds that were spent in the east and southern region and in the Border Midland Western region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33879/06]
View answerIreland qualified for Cohesion Fund assistance since the inception of the fund in 1994 until the end of 2003, following a mid-term review conducted by the Commission because our GNP per capita exceeded 90% of the EU average. The main purpose of the assistance was to improve our transport and environment infrastructure and to bring them up to the standards required by EU Directives. In the case of Ireland, projects were approved over two periods i.e. 1994-1999 and 2000-2003. The projects were chosen in consultation with the European Commission, and were mainly large infrastructure projects. Details of Cohesion Fund receipts by region for the years 2001 to 2006 (to-date) are set out in Table 1 below. The total receipts from the Fund for the period 2001-2006 was €745m. As can be seen from the table the Border, Midland and Western Region received €105.4m while the Southern and Eastern Region received €636.4m. A number of the projects approved under the 1994-1999 round of Cohesion Fund assistance spanned the two regions and are reflected separately in the Table below e.g. National Water Conservation, Vessel (Marine) Traffic Management Information.
|
Year |
B.M.W. Region |
S&E Region |
Both Regions |
Total |
|
2001 |
36,621,595 |
260,112,369 |
357,205 |
297,091,169 |
|
2002 |
38,967,327 |
164,157,500 |
2,869,659 |
205,994,486 |
|
2003 |
16,368,556 |
156,151,170 |
55,675 |
172,575,401 |
|
2004 |
13,451,618 |
12,397,578 |
25,849,196 |
|
|
2005 |
15,633,546 |
15,633,546 |
||
|
2006 (to-date) |
27,991,936 |
27,991,936 |
||
|
Total |
105,409,096 |
636,444,099 |
3,282,539 |
745,135,734 |
|
Percentage |
14% |
85% |
1% |
100% |
291 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance when his Department plans to publish a draft of the National Strategic Reference Framework for consultation; if he will indicate when there will be a debate in Dáil Éireann on this draft and on the Structural Funds Programme for 2007 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33890/06]
View answerFor the next round of Structural Funds 2007-2013 the EU arrangements require each Member State to prepare a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF). This is not a development plan but a document that will set out the strategic focus for the Structural Funds and the link between Community priorities and national and regional policies. The Commission propose that activities to be funded should concentrate on implementing the Lisbon and Gothenburg programmes with particular focus on innovation and the knowledge economy, environment and risk prevention, accessibility to services of general interest (broadband, public transport), increasing adaptability of workers and enterprises, and enhancing access to employment and social inclusion measures. The December European Council agreed a total Budget for the 2007-2013 period of €347 billion for Cohesion Policy. During this time Ireland will receive €901 million in Structural Funds assistance. The minimum value, excluding the Exchequer matching element, for each programme to the regions is estimated at: €458 million for the BMW Region; €293 million for the S&E Region; €150 million for Territorial cooperation including €65 million for the PEACE Operational Programme to be spent in the Border Region.
The Structural Funds will be delivered through one National European Social Fund (ESF) Operational Programme, two Regional European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programmes i.e BMW Operational Programme and S&E Operational Programme and the trans-national PEACE Operational Programme. The NSRF is being drafted in parallel with the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and will incorporate the outcome of the Estimates and Budgetary process for 2007. It also takes account of the outcomes of the Social Partnership agreement Towards 2016 and the consultation processes undertaken by the Managing Authorities for the Operational Programmes and the regional NDP 2007-2013 consultation seminars. The formal consultation on the final draft NSRF will take place in advance of the deadline for submission set down in the General Regulation of March, 2007.
