asked the Minister for Finance the amount of regional fund allocations which have not been taken up by the State for each year since Ireland joined the EEC.
Written Answers. - Regional Fund Allocations.
463.
Since the establishment of the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, Ireland has taken up its full quota each year. In addition, it has availed itself of the arrangement whereby commitment appropriations not taken up by member states at the end of any year can be allocated to another member state in that year and set off against the latter state's quota for the subsequent year. Details of the position to date are set out in tabular form below. Applications totalling a further £14.09 million are at present being considered by the Commission.
In addition to the national quotas, there is a small non-quota section of the fund. Discussions are taking place with the Commission to secure aid from this non-quota section for the economic development of the areas adjoining the Border with Northern Ireland.
Following is the table:
|
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
|
|
Quota |
Commitments |
Decommitments |
Net commitments |
|
|
1975 |
8.08 |
8.30 |
— |
8.30 |
|
1976 |
13.46 |
14.40 |
0.17 |
14.23 |
|
1977 |
13.46 |
12.63 |
0.23 |
12.40 |
|
1978 |
22.83 |
23.62 |
— |
23.62 |
|
Sub-total: |
57.83 |
58.95 |
0.40 |
58.55 |
|
1979 |
38.96 |
29.65 |
0.69 |
28.96 |
|
Total |
96.79 |
88.60 |
1.09 |
87.51 |
Notes:
(a) 1979 Commitment figures cover the period January-September.
(b) Where a project does not proceed as planned, the member state concerned can request decommitment of ERDF aid for that project; the sum decommitted can then be reallocated to another project in the same member State. The take-up of Ireland's quota can most accurately be seen by comparing the figures in columns (a) and (d).