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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 3 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 7

Written Answers - EU Funding.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

39 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the ceiling on the aid which can be offered by the IDA and other development agencies in Kerry and Cork if the Government's proposals on regionalisation are accepted. [25733/98]

Objective One is a Structural Funds classification. For purposes of regional State aid limitations, such an area would most likely have what is known as Article 92(3)(a) status and the ceiling on assistance would be 40 per cent of investment costs, plus a top-up of up to 15 per cent for SMEs. The balance of the State would continue to have the 92(3)(c) status already proposed under the EU regional aid guidelines and the ceiling would be 20 per cent of investment costs, plus a top-up of up to 10 per cent for SMEs. Each of the five "c" regions would have its own limit on permitted aid intensity, subject to the ceiling of 20 per cent. I should stress that these are ceilings in each case and the individual aid intensity limits are to be agreed with the EU Commission by March 1999. In practice, the agencies will continue to operate on a value for money basis and offer assistance at the appropriate level in each case.

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