Vol. 470 No. 4
316 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Defence the level of EU funding being made available for a new Naval patrol vessel in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 26 June 1996; if the submissions made by his Department to the EU Commission prior to 30 June 1996 provided for a down payment in 1997 for this vessel; when he will initiate the tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19076/96]
Further to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 26 June the position in relation to the programme for 1997 is that Ireland's submission was passed to the Commission before the deadline of 30 June and provides for a down payment on an additional Naval patrol vessel. The Commission is considering Ireland's application in conjunction with those of other member states and will decide before the end of the year on the level of funding being made available. It is not possible at this stage to indicate what level of support might be achieved and, consequently, what level of matching funding will be required for the purchase of the patrol vessel.
Subject to a satisfactory conclusion to the negotiations with the Commission, the tendering process will be initiated early next year.
