Vol. 433 No. 2
50 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Government has so far refused to publish the ESRI report on the use of the Structural and Cohesion Funds; when this report was received by it; when it was commissioned; its cost; if the ESRI has yet been paid; and if the report has been made available to the social partners or to any others outside the Government service.
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 by my Department to carry out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Community Support Framework for Ireland 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 complementary of measures within programmes. The consultants were engaged in October 1992 and submitted their report in late April 1993 and the draft summary of the report in late May 1993. The cost of the assignment was £130,000. Of this £80,000 has been paid and the balance will be paid shortly.
The assignment was carried out by the consultants on the basis that it was not the intention of the Department of Finance to publish their 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 was considered inappropriate to publish the full report.
However, an extensive and detailed summary report, prepared by the consultants and containing all of their main conclusions and recommendations, was published on 14 June 1993. Copies have been made available to Members of the Oireachtas, the social partner organisations and the sub-regional Review Committees. The summary is also available through the Government Publications Office.
51 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the ministerial and departmental distribution of responsibilities in regard to the preparation of the Government's submission for EC Structural and Cohesion Funds.
The Minister for Finance is responsible for co-ordinating 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 to 1999. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, has been given special responsibility for preparation of the plan.
Almost all Departments are involved in work relating to the preparation of the plan with the Department of Finance having the primary and co-ordinating role.
The strategies to be adopted and the allocation of resources under the plan are matters to be decided by the Government.
52 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will set aside 10 per cent of the EC Structural Funds for local initiatives.
Work is well advanced on 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 to 1999. It is hoped that the plan will be finalised over the coming weeks. In finalising the plan the Government will decide on the allocation of resources and the level of resources to be applied to local development actions will be determined in that context.
