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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 6

Written Answers - Grant Schemes.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

177 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the nature of each grant scheme operated by his Department since the formation of the Government; the objective of the scheme; and the name of each body or individual grant aided under each scheme. [25940/98]

My Department is involved in the operation of two grant schemes.

The first of these schemes involves the operation of grants under the economic development measures of the Ireland-Northern Ireland and Ireland-Wales INTERREG programmes. Both these programmes are cross-Border initiatives funded by the European Commission so that decisions taken in relation to grants are joint decisions which reflect the views of my Department and the views of the other national authorities involved in the management of the programmes, that is, the Welsh Office or the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland. The views of the relevant development agencies on both sides are also considered when arriving at a decision. The decision-making process which takes place through joint working groups three to four times a year is guided by projection selection criteria set out in the documentation for each programme.

The overall objectives of the INTERREG programmes are to improve cross-Border co-operation and assist the economic regeneration of the Border regions. In the case of the economic development measures of the Ireland-Wales and Ireland-Northern Ireland programmes, these objectives are being pursued by developing links between bodies such as trade associations, professional associations and local authorities, by assisting studies of a multi-sectoral nature and by promoting joint ventures between SMEs in both regions. Tangible economic benefits to the eligible regions are expected to follow in return for the grant assistance given to projects, such as increased employment, improved competitive, production or marketing capacity and-or new ranges of products and services.

The names of bodies grant aided under the economic development measures of both programmes are set out in the following statement.

Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG Projects Approved under the Economic Development Measures

*IBEC-CBI (Joint Business Council), Dungannon District Council, Admin and Development of Rural Strategy, Co-operation North, *NW Region (Cross-Border Grouping), Strabane/ Lifford Development Commission, *Central Border (Cross-Border Grouping), Chamberlink (Chambers of Commerce Grouping), *University of Ulster & LGCSB, Mentor Ltd., Western Connect, Telecom Eireann, Forbairt, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Newry-Dundalk Business Forum, Acumen Management, *East Border Region (Cross-Border Grouping), Tyrone Donegal Partnership, LEDU and IDB (Stand-Alone North Only), NIFDA (Stand-Alone North Only), Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, LRA-IPC.
*Indicates those bodies which were aided in respect of more than one project
Ireland-Wales INTERREG Projects Approved under the Economic Development Measures
Wexford and Pembrokeshire Chambers of Commerce, Dublin Institute of Technology & Snowdonia BIC, Irish Exporters Association-Mid Wales Export Association, Waterford in Business & Pembrokeshire in Business, Craft Council of Ireland-Craft Forum Wales, Tipperary SR County Enterprise-Pembrokeshire Business Initiative, Waterford Chamber of Commerce & Pembrokeshire in Business, Institute of Technology, Carlow and Pembrokeshire College, Dublin Regional Authority-Anglesey County Council, University College Dublin-Pembrokeshire Business Initiative, Eukon-Menter Mon.
In addition to grants made under the above programmes, a second grant scheme is operated by my Department under the charitable lotteries fund, from which payments are made to supplement the income of private charitable lotteries whose lottery products are in direct competition with comparable national lottery products.
The following bodies have received aid from the Fund to date: the Liffey Trust, the Hanley Centre, COPE Foundation, Asthma Society of Ireland, Associated Charities Trust, Irish Cancer Society, The Polio Fellowship of Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association, Rehab Group, GaelLinn, Drogheda Community Services.
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