Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1991

Vol. 413 No. 9

Written Answers. - EC Structural Funds.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

172 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline (a) the amount of moneys from the EC Structural Funds which have been spent under the aegis of his Department in (1) 1988, (2) 1989 and (3) 1990 and (b) the amount of matching funds which were spent by his Department for each year; if he will list the projects which were funded by such funds; if he will further outline the amount of funds which have been committed for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Energy (Mr. Molloy)

Expenditure involving EC Structural Funds under the aegis of my Department relates to two EC Programmes — Valoren and PERIFRA and to the various operational programmes involving forestry.

Expenditures on the Valoren Programme, including the 1991-92 commitment, are as follows:

	EC Structural Funds	Department of Energy	Other Agencies
	£	£	£
1988	1.87m.	0.29m.	1.31m.
1989	2.16m.	0.22m.	1.55m.
1990	3.83m.	0.22m.	2.91m.
1991-92	7.78m.	0.08m.	6.36m.

The projects funded under the Valoren programme are as follows: Micro-hydro studies and schemes; windpower study and windfarm; peat development; Study on Bord na Móna; Energy audit service; Electricity efficiency projects; Energy surveys, studies and advisory services; and geothermal energy surveys.

While the Valoren programme formally closed on 31 October 1991, some projects will not be concluded until 1992. The EC contribution to the various projects under the programme varied from 50 per cent to 70 per cent.

Under the PERIFRA programme the EC Commission decided in September 1991 to provide grant aid of approximately £0.88 million towards the cost of refurbishment of the Whiddy Terminal undertaken by the Irish National Petroleum Corporation as a security of supply measure arising out of the Gulf conflict. Payments under the programme will be made on a phased basis. No payments have been received to date. The total cost of the refurbishment will be approximately £2 million.

Expenditure relating to forestry, including the 1991 commitment, is as follows:

	EC Structural Funds	Department of Energy
	£	£
1988	1.928m.	0.830m.
1989	3.476m.	1.499m.
1990	15.350m.	6.582m.
1991	14.087m.	5.896m.

The projects grant-aided in the forestry sector include grants towards afforestation and the construction and upgrading of forest roads under the Forestry Operational Programme; the farmers planting and premium schemes under the Objective 5 (a) measures; and farm advisory services and afforestation grants under the Operational Programme for Rural Development. In 1991, funding is also being provided under the INTERREG Operational Programme for forestry promotional and advisory services and afforestation grants.

As you know, gas interconnection and the border regions pipelines are to receive financial support from the EC but, at this early stage, no payments have been made.