Dinny McGinley
Ceist:127 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Finance if cross-Border funding under INTERREG or the programme for Peace and Reconciliation is in place for 2000. [27261/99]
Written Answers. - Cross-Border Funding.
I am pleased to confirm that substantial funding is in place or in the course of being negotiated with the European Commission for cross-Border activities for 2000 and later years. The Deputy will be aware that under the current INTERREG Programme and the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland, considerable funding remains to be expended during 2000 on foot of commitments to projects entered into before the closing of these programmes. The existing programmes close at the end of December 1999 and funding under both is fully committed.
The new programmes are expected to become operational in the second quarter of 2000 once the necessary funding negotiations and other technical issues have been put in place. In relation to future funding of the Peace and Reconciliation Programme, the Berlin Council agreed in March of this year that 500 million should be allocated to a new Peace Programme for Northern Ireland and the Border counties. Of this, 100 million will be allocated to projects in the border counties over the period 2000 to 2004. This allocation represents up to 75% of the total funding to be made available. The Exchequer, local authorities and other agencies will make up the remaining funds.
Funding will be made available for a new INTERREG Programme to support cross-Border activities from 2000 to 2006. My officials are in negotiations with the European Commission on the level of funding to be made available under this programme. These negotiations are at an advanced stage and, therefore, I am not in a position to confirm a final position until later this month or possibly early in the new year.