asked the Minister for Labour if any request has been made by the Irish Government for direct payment to be made to Irish local authorities from the EC Social Fund.
Written Answers. - EC Social Fund.
490.
No such request has been made.
All applications for assistance from the European Social Fund, and claims for payment on completion of operations, are submitted through the Department of Labour which is the designated national authority for the purpose. The rules of the fund require the Government of each member state to take full responsibility for applications and claims submitted on behalf of public and private bodies and to guarantee the successful completion of the operations for which ESF aid is granted. It would be for the Department of the Environment to take this responsibility for applications and claims submitted on behalf of local authorities. It would also be for that Department to decide whether ESF assistance should be paid directly to local authorities.