asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of payments made to Ireland from the European Community in 1987 and 1988 in respect of the following areas: (1) AGGF guarantee section (2) AGGF guidance section (3) fisheries (4) social fund (5) regional fund (6) research and (7) others; and if he will specify Ireland's financial payments to the Community in respect of each of these years.
Written Answers. - EC Fund Payments.
54.
Ireland's receipts from the Community Budget in 1987 were as follows:
|
IR£ |
|
|
million |
|
|
EAGGF—Guarantee Section(of which payments in respect of fisheries were £1.2 million) |
739.6 |
|
EAGGF—Guidance(of which payments in respect of fisheries were £2.8 million) |
67.9 |
|
European Social Fund |
193.5 |
|
European Regional Development Fund(including amounts received in respect of fisheries port developments) |
87.4 |
|
Others |
11.9 |
|
Total |
1,100.3 |
In addition to the above, it is estimated that payments of the order of £10 million in respect of research were received by research bodies, higher education establishments and private firms. A more accurate estimate is not possible, as the data are not compiled in a comprehensive manner on the basis of payments receipts.
At this stage it is not possible to predict with accuracy Ireland's receipts from Community sources for 1988. As regards the Regional Fund, receipts in the region of £130 million are expected. Specific forecasts are not available for the other individual headings. However, Ireland's receipts overall in 1988 will be at least as high as last year.
Ireland's contribution to the Community Budget in 1987 was £255.2 million, this amount being net of receipts of £7.3 million arising from adjustments to the VAT base for previous years.
As regards 1988, Ireland's net contribution will be about £250 million. In this connection I would draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 19 October in which I gave the reasons for savings arising under this heading.
55.
asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of EC structural fund payments spent in the Dublin city and county areas since Ireland entered the EC; and the total amounts for these areas under each fund i.e. Social Fund, Regional Fund and Guidance Fund.
Assistance from the Social Fund is allocated on the basis of national programmes. Accordingly, details of expenditure under the fund are not available on a county by county basis.
Total commitments from the European Regional Development Fund in respect of developments in Dublin city and county since the establishment of the fund in 1975 amount to £131.75 million.
Assistance from the Guidance Fund from 1973 to date in respect of developments in Dublin city and county amounts to £10.97 million.