Written Answers. - EC Structural Funds.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
293
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications
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.
The information requested is as follows:
EC Structural Funds Expenditure
|
Programmes/Projects
|
1988£m.
|
1989£m.
|
1990£m.
|
1991 (Forecast)£m.
|
|
European Regional Development Fund Special Border Area Programme 1986-1990 (1)
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
0.6
|
0.3
|
|
Connaught Regional Airport
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
—
|
—
|
|
SFADCo Tourism Projects
|
—
|
1.9
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
|
Operational Programme for Tourism 1989-1993 (European Regional Development Fund) (2)
|
—
|
—
|
13.8
|
35.0
|
|
Operational Programme for Tourism (ESF) (2)
|
—
|
—
|
7.7
|
8.5
|
|
Operational Programme on Peripherality (European Regional Development Fund) (3)
|
—
|
—
|
4.3
|
5.8
|
|
Star Programme (European Regional Development Fund) (4)
|
5.3
|
8.0
|
9.0
|
6.8
|
|
Telecommunications Infrastructure (European Regional Development Fund) (4)
|
21.5
|
3.8
|
2.9
|
0.04
|
|
Total
|
27.5
|
14.3
|
38.8
|
56.84
|
Notes
(1) Under the special Border area programme, a total of £8 million approximately was made available for tourism amenity projects over the period 1986 to 1990. Apart from the amount of £0.156 million which was paid to Bord Fáilte in 1988 the funds are paid directly by the Department of Finance to the promoting agencies, mainly local authorities. Over the period 1988 to 1991 a total of £547,396 was paid to Bord Fáilte for tourism promotional initiatives undertaken by local tourism interests.
(2) Responsibility for the administration of the operational programme for Tourism, 1989-1993 rests with four agencies viz: The Office of Public Works, Bord Fáilte, SFADCo and CERT. The Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications is the national authority in charge of programme management and co-ordinates all matters relating to the financial management, monitoring and control of the programme.
As the programme was not launched until January, 1990 no actual expenditure was incurred during 1989. The table above shows expenditure on European Regional Development Fund and ESF moneys in 1990 and forecast expenditure for 1991.
Matching funds for this expenditure are provided by, among others, the Office of Public Works, local authorities and regional tourism organisations in the case of Sub-programme 1 (public sector projects) and by the private sector for Sub-Programme 2. CERT provides matching funding in respect of Sub-Programme 3. Matching funds are not provided by the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications.
As the tourism agencies are responsible for appraising and approving grant applications under the programme, lists of project approvals are available from them.
(3) Matching funds for the programme are provided essentially by the implementing agencies viz: Aer Rianta, Regional Airport authorities and CIE. Matching funds are only provided by the Department in respect of certain studies undertaken under the Technical Assistance Programme of the Operational Programme on Peripherality e.g. Access Transport Study (£0.6 million in 1990) and the Dublin/Belfast Railway Line Study (£0.03 million forecast for 1991).
A list of projects financed under the Operational Programme on Peripherality will be furnished to the Deputy shortly.
(4) No matching funds are paid by the Department in respect of the STAR and non-STAR infrastructure and awareness/publicity telecommunications projects.
