Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1991

Vol. 413 No. 9

Written Answers. - EC Structural Funds.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

106 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs 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 Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

The only Structural Fund moneys disbursed under the aegis of this Department during the period in question related to the commissioning of the North-West Study. The study was an economic development report which covered County Donegal and the district council areas of Strabane and Derry. It was commissioned by the Irish and British Governments and carried out by consultants Coopers and Lybrand. It was formally launched by the Taoiseach and by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in July 1990.

In the first instance, the cost of the study was borne in equal parts by the two Governments. The Irish Government's contribution was IR£69,614. The expenditure incurred in this study was reimbursed at a rate of 75 per cent by the European Regional Development Fund. The relevant payments were made to the consultants on an instalment basis between March 1989 and May 1990.

There are no commitments from the Structural Funds for 1991 relating to areas of my Department's activity.