Phil Hogan
Ceist:64 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Finance if he anticipated continuation of funding from the EC under the heading of Structural Funds to continue after 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Structural Funds.
Ireland's funding from the EC Structural Funds is guaranteed until 31 December 1993. No definitive decisions have been taken by the Council of Ministers or the Commission of the European Communities as to the Structural Funds régime which will apply beyond that date.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 on the co-ordination of the Structural Funds does, however, provide that the Council shall re-examine the regulation five years after its entry into force; and the Commission shall review the list of Objective I Regions — of which Ireland is one — in good time before 31 December 1993 in order for the Council, acting on a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, to establish a new list to apply for the period after the five years have elapsed.
In so far as the Structural Funds are concerned, the prime focus of my attention at this stage is to ensure that the additional Structural Funding between now and 1993 is drawn down in order to implement the development programmes and measures contained in the National Development Plan 1989-1993. I am, however, keeping the post-1993 funding situation under close review particularly in the context of the completion of the Internal Market and the moves towards economic and monetary union. The Deputy can be assured that Ireland will continue to press for special attention to the problems of the poorer and more peripheral regions of the Community in the post-1993 situation.