Vol. 428 No. 5
61 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Finance if local authorities have been contacted regarding the Ouverture programme of the EC; and if he will give details of the type of project which will receive assistance under this programme.
The Ouverture project was initiated by the European Commission under Article 10 of the European Regional Development Fund. Its aim is to promote and facilitate co-operation between the regions and cities of the European Community in developing links with their counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe. It commenced in 1991 and will continue to the end of 1993.
The Ouverture project is being managed within the Community by four initial partners to each of whom a group of EC regional and local authorities has been assigned. Together with Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK, Ireland is in the group for which responsibility for implementation of the project lies with Strathclyde Regional Council, Scotland. This group will develop links with regional and local authorities in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
I understand that the following local authorities are among the Irish bodies involved in the project:
|
Local Authority |
Project |
|
Clare County Council |
SME Support and Development |
|
Limerick Corporation |
Trade and Export Promotion |
|
Kerry County Council |
SME Support and Development |
|
Cork County Council |
SME Support and Development |
|
Tipperary (SR) County Council |
Local Government Administration |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Tourism |
|
Galway Corporation |
Tourism Development |
