Ivan Yates
Ceist:111 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Finance if the ESRI report in relation to assessment of past EC Structural Funds will be published; and, if so, when.
Written Answers. - EC Structural Funds.
John Bruton
Ceist:123 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the ESRI report on Ireland's expenditure of EC Structural Funds.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 123 together.
As part of the preparation of the National Development Plan, which will set out the Government's proposals for the use of EC Structural and Cohesion Funds in the period 1994-1999, the Department of Finance decided to engage consultants to undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Community Support Framework 1989 to 1993 in contributing to Ireland's economic development and to make recommendations on
—the strategy that should underpin the next Community Support Framework,
—following from that strategy, the optimal mix of national programmes and measures to implement the strategy, and
—practical ways of providing for greater integration and complementarity of measures within programmes.
A number of firms and bodies were invited to put forward proposals to undertake the assignment. The Economic and Social Research Institute in association with DKM Economic Consultants; G. Boyle, Centre for Agriculture and Food Policy Research, Maynooth College; and Brendan Kearney and Associates were engaged.
Although the main recommendations of the consultants have been received the assignment is not yet fully completed. The assignment was carried out by the consultants on the basis that it was not the intention of the Department of Finance to publish its report. Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies co-operated with the consultants and supplied material to them on that understanding. In the circumstances it would be inappropriate to publish the report now. When the assignment has been completed consideration will be given to whether the main conclusions of the consultants should be published.