Enda Kenny
Ceist:40 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the Government's proposals, if any, in regard to regional development in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Regional Development.
The Government is fully committed to regional development in Ireland. The National Development Plan 1994-1999 which sets out the country's main development priorities over the next five years reflects this commitment.
In preparing this plan, the Government were determined to ensure that the development strategy adopted would promote balanced regional development. Each of the sub-Regional Review Committees prepared a detailed submission setting out its recommendations concerning a development strategy and the priority measures to implement that strategy for its sub-region. In the plan, the Government have responded to these submissions in so far as they are consistent with the overall national objectives of maximising sustainable growth and employment within the constraints of the EU and national resources available.
The plan places a major emphasis on local development. It recognises the role which local initiatives can play both as a catalyst for local economic development and enterprise and in measures aimed at targeting long term unemployment and social exclusion.
Under the Programme for Partnership Government, the Government committed itself to the development of a Regional Authority structure in Ireland. This was given effect by the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993 which established the Regional Authorities with effect from 1 January 1994. The primary role of the Regional Authorities is to promote co-ordination of the provision of public services at regional level. The Government were conscious of the need to ensure that arrangements for sub-regional review of EU Structural and Cohesion Fund expenditure were consistent with developments in local Government and administrative reform. In this context, the Government decided that the remit of the Regional Authorities should include responsibility for reviewing and advising on the implementation of measures under the National Development Plan at sub-regional level.
The Regional Authorities have now assumed the responsibilities with regard to EU matters formerly discharged by the sub-Regional Review Committees mentioned above. For this purpose, each Regional Authority will be assisted by a broadly-based Operational Committee made up of locally elected representatives and officials, social partner organisations, appropriate State agencies, representatives of Government Departments and representatives of the community-voluntary sector.
In establishing the Regional Authorities, the Government decided to rationalise the sub-regional boundaries so as to improve the planning and co-ordination of public services at local level. The Government also directed that all public sector agencies should, as far as is practicable, adopt these boundaries for reviewing implementation of the plan at sub-regional level. This should facilitate a better flow of information to the Regional Authorities and their Committees and enhance their capacity to advise the authorities responsible for implementation of measures under the Community Support Framework.