Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cross-Border Projects.

Mary Coughlan

Ceist:

72 Miss Coughlan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of peace and reconciliation money spent by his Department in 1996 and 1997; and the moneys, if any, which were returned to the European Commission at the end of 1996 due to non-expenditure. [19372/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

My Department has responsibility for the implementation of measures in two areas under the Cross-Border Development Sub-Programme of the EU Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. A provision of £1 million has been included for this purpose under subhead F.3 of the Foreign Affairs Vote in the 1996 Estimates.

Measure 1 is concerned with business and cultural links and is being administered on both sides of the Border by an intermediary funding body, Co-operation North, in association with the business representative organisations IBEC and the CBI (NI). My Department's role under this measure is primarily as a channel to Co-operation North of the EU and Government matching funds which will total approximately £7.3 million over the period of the programme. As of 30 September 1996, Co-operation North has issued letters of offer in respect of sixty (60) projects with a grant value of £1,013,288. These projects will involve total expenditure of £1,966,907. To date £182,700 has been provided from subhead F.3 in respect of these projects.

My Department's primary imvolvement under the EU programme is in the implementation of measures 3 (A) and 3 (B) concerning co-operation between public bodies. The rationale behind this measure is the adoption of co-ordinated approaches by public bodies to common problems in the eligible areas, North and South. Total funding of approximately £5.33 million will be administered by my Department under these measures. The first tranche of applications was considered during the summer and six projects were approved for funding. The six projects approved will involve total grants of £2.744 million, which will be paid equally by both Governments, and total expenditure of £3.36 million. The second and final tranche of applications were received in September and are currently being processed and evaluated. Funds for approved projects will be drawn down in 1996 and in 1997, but we are not yet in a position to forecast accurately the breakdown between the two years.

I assure the Deputy that the question of moneys being returned to the European Commission at the end of 1996 does not arise.