Vol. 490 No. 6
38 Mr. Yates asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the cashflow difficulties being experienced by a voluntary organisation (details supplied) in County Wexford due to the hold-up on the issuing of funds under the INTERREG II programme; the reason for this delay; and the steps, if any, being taken to resolve the problem so that payment can be made immediately. [10915/98]
I indicated to Deputy Howlin yesterday in reply to Question No. 82 we are aware of the delays which are being experienced in providing advances of European Social Funds to project promoters in this joint Ireland-Wales EU-supported initiative. These are due to problems which have been experienced by the UK authorities in Cardiff and London in relation to financial applications from their jurisdiction submitted to the European Commission in Brussels.
My Department has had frequent contact with all concerned promoters on the Irish side, has drawn the nature of the delays to the attention of both the European Commission and the Department of Finance which has overall Irish responsibility for this initiative and has had several meetings in Brussels, Cardiff and Dublin in efforts to help to resolve the matters.
Because of the joint nature of this initiative, funding arrangements for the Irish promoters of projects cannot, under EU rules, be made separately from those on the UK side. I am hopeful that the European Commission may soon be able to give a favourable decision to joint proposals before it on this initiative but I cannot guarantee such. I can assure the Deputy, however, that my Department is continuing to make every effort in this regard. Again, to be of assistance, my Department has been in touch with all concerned Irish promoters to offer whatever assistance is possible, for example, by way of letters of comfort to the effect that the funding approved will not be jeopardised by the delays and the amounts approved will be honoured in full.
