asked the Minister for Finance if the areas which qualify for grant aid from the European Regional Development Fund in respect of the provision of amenities including water sports, angling works, etc., will be extended to include the severely handicapped areas of the western counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Regional Development Fund.
5.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the possibility of extending to the western counties aid at present granted from the non-quota section of the European Regional Development Fund for amenities in the Border counties. I am afraid that this would not be possible under the EEC Regulation governing the granting of the aid.
When the non-quota section of the fund was being introduced in 1979 it was apparent that Ireland would be unlikely to benefit. Ireland's agreement to the introduction of the non-quota section was dependent upon an assurance from the Council that aid would be provided to deal with Border problems in the most deserving regions of the Community. Accordingly the regulation authorising the non-quota section aid for the provision of amenities including water sports, angling works etc. in Ireland relates exclusively to Irish Border areas and may not be extended outside those areas.
Can the Minister give any indication whether the total funds available in this area are being expended? Are they being utilised? Are funds available in this area that have not been spent and, in view of that, if there are substantial amounts would it be desirable to extend the areas into the severely handicapped regions?
The regulations adopted in 1979 governing the setting up of the non-quota section made provision in relation to Ireland in order to meet specific needs that were put forward at that stage. As far as the other parts of the Deputy's question are concerned, he is asking about the total amount available and whether that will be used up. As I said a few minutes ago, I answered that question last week for Deputy Leonard.
There are two parts to this question: first, I got the distinct impression that moneys from this fund, which were allocated for the self-catering——
The Deputy must ask a question.
Would the Minister confirm that I am right in thinking that moneys from this fund, which were allocated for the self-catering sector, were expended over a much wider area than the Border counties? I got the impression that similar grants were available in non-Border counties? Is that so? Would the Minister comment on an allegation made at a meeting of the Mourne District Council that some of the money from this cross-Border fund was spent on the development of a small airport in Sligo?
The regulations governing the expenditure of these funds, adopted in 1979, specified the areas and the types of projects which may be grant-aided and to the best of my knowledge those regulations have been adhered to in the expenditure of these funds. If the Deputy has information or suggestions that funds earmarked for this purpose were used somewhere else, I would be glad if he would let me know and we can investigate it.