Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Community Support Framework.

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

59 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Taoiseach the elements of positive discrimination, if any, which are exercised by his Department towards particular areas in view of the fact that areas of rural Ireland contribute substantially to our current Objective One status; the form which any such positive discrimination takes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8049/97]

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. Carey)

My appointment as the first Minister with responsibility for western development clearly indicates the Government's commitment to give special attention to the needs of the western region and to rural areas. Under my area of responsibility a number of important initiatives have been put in place. The Western Development Commission has been appointed to promote the economic and social regeneration of the western region by working alongside existing agencies and groups active in the region. A western investment fund is being established to provide long-term venture capital and equity specifically for developing business in the west. The Government has committed Exchequer funding of up to £25 million over a six year period as matching funding for this special fund.

The National Economic and Social Council has been commissioned to carry out a detailed study on population settlement patterns which will inform the Government on future policies to be persued to address problems of population imbalance, particularly in the west. In addition, I am overseeing the implementation of a pilot programme which is exploring appropriate models of delivering public services in areas of declining and dispersed populations. The objective of the programme is to identify sustainable models of best practice in public service provision which could be mainstreamed. In line with the Government's policy for offshore islands, as set out in the report of the Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Island Development, the difficulties faced by communities living on offshore islands are being specifically addressed in a co-ordinated manner. Additional funding of £2 million has been provided between 1996 and 1997 for priority access and infrastructure projects.

Under Sub-Programme II of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development for which my Department has overall responsibility, funding of £78 million is available to the end of 1999 for 38 area partnership companies in 35 areas designated as disadvantaged. These areas were designated as disadvantaged on the basis of objective indicators e.g. the rate of unemployment particularly long-term unemployment, age dependency, the numbers living in local authority housing, the number of lone parents etc. 33 community groups are also being funded, to an amount of £18 million, in areas outside those designated as disadvantaged. Allocations are made to partnerships and groups on the basis of integrated area actions plans. The Urban Initiative applies to these disadvantaged urban areas, areas with a population of over 100,000, in Dublin, Northside, Tallaght-Clondalkin, and north Cork city. A sum of £21 million is available under the initiative to end of 1999.

The implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Border Funding which I chair, specifically focuses on the needs of the Border region. It clearly identifies programmes available in the Border counties and the relevant sources of funding available. It also clarifies and simplifies the application process for communities in the Border area applying for funding.