Vol. 497 No. 7
36 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to ensure the continued development of local employment initiatives during the next round of EU Structural Funds in view of the fact that many deprived areas may find themselves classified as transition regions for EU funding by Eurostat. [26125/98]
The Local Employment Service does benefit from some modest EU Structural Funds support through the local area partnerships funded under the local urban and rural development OP. However, the vast majority of funding comes from the Vote for my Department; this year, for example, £8.2 million is provided for the Local Employment Service by my Department while £780,000 in match-funded EU support is provided through the partnerships. The relative priority and resource needs of this area will be addressed by Government in the context of framing the National Development Plan for 2000-2006 and of meeting our commitments in this area under the national employment action plan.
At the request of the Department of Finance earlier this year, my Department submitted proposals for the next round of EU Structural Funds across the various areas in my responsibility. This included a range of activities related to the employment and placement services. I understand that the totality of proposals put forward by all Departments, the regional authorities and a range of social partner bodies are at present being assessed by consultants acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance. When we get to the stage, well into next year, when the most suitable proposals for the next round of EU Structural Funding are decided by Government, I will then be in a position to detail my plans for this area in that context.
