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EU Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Questions (108)

Barry Cowen

Question:

108. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds he expects to be available to Ireland under the European Union Cohesion Package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20397/21]

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Written answers

As Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, I have overall responsibility for EU Cohesion Policy and primary responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which includes European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) Funds – also referred to as INTERREG Funds. The Minister for Education & Skills has primary responsibility for the European Social Fund (ESF+). The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications has primary responsibility for the Just Transition Fund (JTF). These three funds, along with the Cohesion Fund (from which Ireland no longer benefits) constitute the Cohesion Policy Funds.

Ireland will receive €1,139 million (in 2018 prices) in Cohesion Policy Funds for the 2021 – 2027 programming period, comprising of:

- €351 million for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);

- €451 million for the European Social Fund + (ESF+);

- €260 million for European Territorial Cooperation (including PEACE PLUS); and

- €77 million under the Just Transition Fund (JTF).

In addition, Ireland will receive €83 million for the current programmes in 2021 under REACT-EU, an EU initiative which follows on from the first EU emergency crisis response to the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, with the goal of building on crisis repair in the context of COVID-19 and prepare a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy.

When matching funding is included the full value of the programmes supported by these allocations amounts to almost €3.5 billion. The EU funding will be spent in areas such as supporting SMEs, reskilling and upskilling our workforce, investing in research and development and emerging technologies, to ensure that Ireland is well placed to take advantage of opportunities arising from a green and digital Europe. Operational Programmes, which plan how this funding will be spent, are already under development. The ERDF planning process involves the three Regional Assemblies, along with IBEC, ICTU and the Social and Voluntary Sector. The Just Transition Fund will be deployed in areas most affected by the cessation of peat extraction. There is an increased EU contribution for PEACE PLUS, which underscores the commitment of the Commission, and our fellow EU Member States, along with the Irish and UK Governments and the NI Executive to peace and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland and in the Border Counties.

This Cohesion Policy Fund package, which will be delivered through Operational Programmes for 2021 – 2027, will deliver real practical benefits for communities throughout Ireland.

Question No. 109 answered with Question No. 96.
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