James McDaid
Ceist:44 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Finance the political initiatives he feels are required for economic regeneration of the Border counties. [14366/96]
Written Answers. - Border Counties Regeneration.
The Government has consistently supported initiatives aimed at consolidating the peace process and promoting economic regeneration in the Border counties. A number of specific initiatives are already focused on economic regeneration in the Border area.
The European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation is aimed at Northern Ireland and the Border counties. It involves a total EU expenditure of approximately £240 million over three years and Government funding of £65 million. Over £60 million of this expenditure is taking place in the Border counties.
The International Fund for Ireland, established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986, has received contributions from the United States, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The fund has already provided over £90 million for projects in the Border counties in the past ten years.
The Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG programme 1994/1999 established under the EU Structural Funds has approved EU funding for the six years 1994/1999 of over £72 million for the Border counties.
In addition, the US Government has supported the peace process through measures to develop trade and investment between the United States and the region. President Clinton held the White House Conference on Trade and Investment in May 1995. The US Department of Commerce held a further economic conference in Pittsburgh in October. Both conferences were quite successful in helping to encourage business partnerships between US and Irish companies, which will continue to bear fruit over the longer term. Also, earlier this year, the Taoiseach appointed the Minister of State, Deputy Donal Carey, to chair an Interdepartmental Task Force on funding arrangements in the Border region. The report of the task force has been published and arrangements are being made by the Minister of State for general circulation. The report contains a number of specific recommendations to improve co-ordination and to facilitate accessing of available funding in the Border region.
The initiatives I have outlined indicate that the Border counties are being assisted very actively in promoting economic regeneration. I can assure the Deputy that these initiatives will be continued and be vigorously promoted by the Government to ensure that the maximum possible benefit accrues to the region.