Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Feb 1988

Vol. 378 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Aid Programmes.

17.

asked the Minister for Finance with reference to the recent announcement by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, if it is intended to implement cross-Border integrated programmes; if not, the reason, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

24.

asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the view expressed by Comhdháil na nOileán that the islands should be classified as one region for development purposes under any proposed new regional classification scheme; and if he will indicate Government policy in this regard.

48.

(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance with reference to the statement of October 1987 by the Minister of State, Mrs. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, announcing the Government's intention to proceed with the programme approach to use of EC funds, whether any progress has yet been made; and if he will make a statement indicating the regions for which programmes will be implemented and the organisational structures which are to be put in place for same.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 24 and 48 together.

In her announcement to which the Deputy refers, the Minister of State for European Affairs stated that:

in order to ensure that Ireland would avail of European Community funding possibilities to the maximum possible extent under the new approach set out in recent proposals under the EC Commission's `Delors Plan', the Government has decided to move towards a programme basis for applications for assistance from the Community's development or Structural Funds.

The Minister of State went on to say that:

Negotiations on the Commission proposals are still under way in the Council of Ministers and for this and other reasons, the final position in regard to programmes and their shape and content remains unclear. The preparation of programmes for a number of areas would provide an opportunity, with the assistance of the Commission, to establish the requirements for the contents of programmes and how best to go about the task of drawing them up and implementing them, as the future regime became clearer with the movement of the current negotiations towards a conclusion.

While last week's European Council decided on some of the major issues, other detailed provisions have still to be laid down in the implementing regulations. We are therefore moving forward against a background of some uncertainty.

As of now, preparatory work has commenced in connection with the proposed programme for Dublin, and a steering committee has been established under the chairmanship of my Department to oversee this programme. This committee includes representatives of the relevant Government Departments, the city and county manager of Dublin, Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Commission of the European Communities. The relevant State-sponsored bodies will also be represented as appropriate. The committee is at present drawing up detailed terms of reference for the preparatory study for the proposed programme.

Subject to the outcome of the continuing negotiations, it is proposed to adopt organisational structures similar to those established for the Dublin programme for all future programmes of this type.

The Government have not yet taken a decision on the other areas to be the subject of a programme approach. However, it is envisaged that eventually Irish requests for aid from the European Community's structural funds will be predominantly on a programme basis that will cover all areas of the State.

I am aware of the view of Comhdháil na nOileán that the islands should be treated as one region in this connection. I might mention that the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, who are respectively Chairman and Secretary of the Ministerial Committee on off-shore Islands, are today meeting representatives of Comhdháil na nOileán. I can assure the Deputy that the views expressed by an Comhdháil will be fully considered when the Government consider this issue further.

(Limerick East): Can I take it from the Minister's reply that his Department intend to have an integrated regional policy for the whole country and that he has not yet delineated the areas and he is going to use the Dublin model as the basis for the integration around the country? Is that the situation?

It would be the basis of any future programme rather than, as has been the case, as the Deputy knows from his former days as Minister, on a project basis. That does not rule out the possibility of presentations for assistance for projects, but it will be predominantly programmes in the future as soon as all of the procedures are worked out in Europe.

That concludes Questions for today, including Priority Questions.

Barr
Roinn