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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 1

Ceisteanna — Questions. - Peace and Reconciliation Programme.

Bertie Ahern

Ceist:

8 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the provenance of funding for the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation; and the reason for an increase in funding from £1.8 million to £8.4 million in 1997. [24531/96]

The Programme for Peace and Reconciliation is an EU initiative. The sources of funds are the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and Exchequer co-financing. Those elements of the peace programme which are being managed by ADM Limited are funded through the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach.

The programme was approved by the European Commission in July 1995. The implementation of the programme throughout 1995 and 1996 involved advertising for funding, the development of local plans, the evaluation of the plans and allocation of funding by ADM. The expenditure on the programme for 1996 was, accordingly, estimated at a reasonably low level. It is envisaged, however, that expenditure in 1997 will substantially increase and this is reflected in the 1997 allocation for the programme in the Department's Vote.

Since this question relates to the European Union, may I be permitted to express my appreciation to the Leader of the Opposition, the only Opposition party present in the House today, for the co-operation given to the Irish Presidency in the European Parliament? It was my job to take questions on behalf of the European Parliament. The leader of the Fianna Fáil group, Mr. Collins, pledged the group's co-operation which was forthcoming. I greatly appreciate that; it was very much in the national interest. They did their job as MEPs but they were very co-operative and I welcome the opportunity to record my appreciation.

I thank the Minister of State. We tried at every level to help the Presidency in any way we could. Will the Minister of State indicate what the increase in funding will be spent on?

ADM Limited and the Combat Poverty Agency have committed £3.9 million to date and this month will commit a further £4 million. Commitments began in June of this year. The number of applications has been increasing and the quality improving all the time. The rate of commitment is now very satisfactory. I understand Co-Operation North has committed approximately £2 million to the projects so far this year and county council led task forces have allocated approximately £3.5 million. I do not have a detailed breakdown of the expenditure under any of these headings.

I thank the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, through the Minister of State, for their belated support for the rowing back in relation to this fund. The House will recall that an effort was made, sponsored by the socialist group in the European Parliament budgetary committee, to remove much of this funding from the allocation and direct it elsewhere. I thank the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste for their efforts in that regard which were important for the Border areas. What proportion of this fund has been spent on administration this year and what is the estimate for next year?

The EU support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties provides for a new five year community initiative with EU funding of approximately £240 million for the years 1995-7 with 20 per cent, approximately £48 million, being allocated in the Border regions. It has been agreed that a minimum of 15 per cent of total funding will be spent on cross-Border projects. I do not have the administration costs in this regard. Some of it will be administered by and through ADM and some by local authorities. I will try to obtain an estimate for the Deputy but it will only be an estimate because much of the administration is being done by existing organisations. I expect in some cases they will have to take on additional resources but I do not believe that will be a substantial part of the £240 million which has been committed.

I welcome the substantial increase in this funding which will be of benefit to communities on both sides of the Border. Will the Minister indicate the percentage of funding that will be allocated to the six southern Border counties? In regard to Deputy Ahern's comment, I never suspected that the fund would have been abolished or drastically reduced by the socialist party knowing that a very influential member of that party in the European Parliament is John Hume, who has done more than many others for cross-Border co-operation.

I understand 20 per cent, approximately £48 million, will be allocated to the Border regions and it has been agreed that a minimum of 15 per cent of the total funding, that is, 15 per cent of £240 million, will also be spent on cross-Border projects from which the Border counties south of the Border will benefit.

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