Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
252. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Special European Union Programmes Body measure 1.1 Regional has been oversubscribed; if so, the amount by which it has it been oversubscribed; if other measures have been similarly oversubscribed; and the steps the SEUPB is taking to ensure projects receive their full allocation as per SEUPB steering group decisions of 28 and 29 November 2011. [54548/12]
View answerThe PEACE III Programme is co-funded by the EU, Northern Ireland and Ireland and has a total allocation of €333m The Programme has been oversubscribed, reflecting the fact that the Programme is widely recognised as making a significant contribution to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland. As regards the level of programme over-commitment, the latest information is that Measure 1.1 is over-committed by €18.9m. Measure 2.1 has also been over-committed by €16.9m.
The Deputy may wish to note that the exchange rate can affect over-commitment. Projects for these themes were approved based on the available budget at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the PEACE III Steering Committee. Subsequent changes in exchange rate have resulted in the value of approved projects exceeding the allocation. In addition, a degree of over-commitment is not unusual in an EU co-funded Programme of this type and size. To ensure that an EU co-funded Programme achieves full expenditure, a certain level of over-commitment is considered prudent to balance that fact that some projects will not spend their full allocation. The Special EU Programmes Body is the Managing Authority for the PEACE III Programme. SEUPB is working with Government Departments North & South to deal with this issue.
