Jim Higgins
Ceist:5 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Taoiseach when the next economic indicator regional accounts will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/98]
Ceisteanna — Questions. - Regional Accounts.
The next set of regional accounts will be published by the end of March. Unlike previous publications on this topic which related to one year only, the forthcoming publication will contain results for the years 1994 and 1995 and thus make these statistics much more up to date than previously. It is intended to publish these regional accounts on a regular annual basis in future.
(Mayo): Questions Nos. 1 and 2 related to the ongoing Structural Funds negotiations. Will the Minister of State agree that we are conducting negotiations at a time when we are effectively handicapped by the lack of statistics? To get a proper picture of what is happening in the regions, one would need to have more up-to-date statistics than those for 1994 and 1995. The statistics for 1996 and 1997 would be more relevant. I appreciate there has been a backlog but it is not wise to conduct vital negotiations at a time when more up-to-date statistics are not available.
The Deputy is correct that in conducting negotiations one must have the most up-to-date statistics available. As he is aware, the largest allocations are made to those regions which have objective one status, those regions where gross domestic product per capita is less than 75 per cent of the Union average. On the last occasion Ireland's GDP per capita was less than 75 per cent of the Union average. Consequently, the whole country qualified for objective one status. I am conscious of what the Taoiseach said about the policy aspects. The regional accounts show that in 1993 GDP per capita in four regions was below the 75 per cent limit — in the mid-east the figure was 53.1 per cent of the EU average; the Border areas, 68.6 per cent; the midlands, 63.9 per cent, and the west, 59.2 per cent. The accounts to be published in March will contain figures for the years 1994 and 1995. The publication in March will deal with the years 1994 and 1995. I take the Deputy's point and would be happier if it dealt with the years 1996 and 1997. The way the information is compiled on the basis of regional accounts is apparently extremely complex. I am looking into this matter to see if there is any way it can be speeded up. It involves measuring the gross value added-gross domestic product by the eight regional authority regions. Apparently that is a complex procedure because some people live in Dublin and work in the Middle East and it is necessary to allocate their income to whatever area they receive it from. The Deputy is correct that the information should be more up to date but as of now we will have to operate on 1994 and l995 figures. I do not believe that will change the policy in regard to Objective One status.
If I do not call Question No. 6 now I will not be able to call it. In fairness to the Deputy who tabled it and is present, I will now call that question.