The contract for an Ex-ante Assessment for the use of Financial Instruments (FIs) within Ireland’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programmes was awarded to Indecon on 31 August, 2016. The Report of the ex-ante assessment examining all 7 required steps was finalised on 30 June 2017. We are currently analysing the report submitted to us by Indecon and are making arrangement for the publication of the summary findings and conclusions which must be published within 3 months of their date of finalisation. The final report will also be submitted to the RDP Monitoring Committee for information.