Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
385. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of matched funding provided to the 16 Interreg enterprise projects under the European Interreg IV Programme by his Department, by the EU, by the NI Executive, and by Intertrade Ireland. [45695/13]
View answer386. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the detail of the aims, outcomes, budget and geographical location of the 16 interreg enterprise projects funded through the European Interreg IV Programme. [45696/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.
The Interreg Programme is the Cross-Border Territorial Co-operation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland. The programme is 75% funded by the EU, through the European Regional Development Fund, and the remaining 25% is provided by the participating Member States, and has potential funding availability of €256 million (€70M for enterprise theme). InterTradeIreland, the North South trade and business development body, does not fund projects approved under the Interreg Programme. Its role is to promote cross-border trade and the development of business networks to the benefit of both jurisdictions.
The aim of the enterprise theme is to help develop a more diverse and dynamic economy by addressing areas such as business support, investment in business infrastructure and networking. The individual projects cover a very wide span of extensive support measures, some tailored to assisting a wide spread of SMEs, others being more legacy infrastructural type projects. All of the activities of the projects supported by my Department under this theme fall within these areas, and are located in the border region with a corresponding project partner located in one of the counties of Northern Ireland (excluding Belfast), which is another key funding criteria that must be met by project promoters.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) co-funds 16 projects under the Enterprise Development theme of the Interreg IVA Programme (2007-2013) with its counterpart Department in Northern Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).
The first jointly approved group of projects under this theme were funded on an agreed 40% (DJEI) : 60% (DETI) basis generally. More recently approved enterprise projects have been funded on a revised ratio of 23-27% (DJEI) : 73-77% (relevant Northern Ireland Department). In addition, my Department also contributes to the funding of a small number of projects that have an enterprise development focus under the Collaboration theme of the Interreg Programme.
While the period of the current Programme is 2007-2013, funding for the enterprise theme did not commence until 2009. The amount of funding provided for approved projects in the first few years was relatively small due to the lack of good quality projects. However, as the quality improved more projects were approved, particularly in 2011/2012.
In total, by the end of the current Interreg programme, my Department expects to have contributed €16M approximately towards projects under the Programme.
