Vol. 519 No. 5
72 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the area in which responsibility will rest for co-ordination of the regional operational programmes required under the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11492/00]
Responsibility for the co-ordination of the two regional operational programmes lies with the respective managing authorities, namely, the regional assemblies for the Border, Midland and Western, and Southern and Eastern regions, respectively. The principal responsibilities of each assembly in its role as managing authority will be as follows. It will prepare for approval by the monitoring committee the programme complement for the operational programme. The programme complement is the document for implementing the programme which will contain details such as the measures to be implemented and the financing plan, selection criteria, implementing agency, final beneficiary and monitoring indicators for each measure. It will chair and provide the secretariat for the monitoring committee of the regional operational programme – as managing authority, the assembly will have the discretion to propose to the monitoring committee changes in the EU co-funded element of the regional operational programme. Any changes to the contribution of the Structural Funds to the OP would also be subject to the approval of the European Commission. It will assemble statistical and financial information required for monitoring the operational pro gramme and supplying this information to the CSF managing authority, Department of Finance, draw up the annual implementation report for approval by the monitoring committee and submission to the European Commission, submit payment claims to the paying authorities for the Structural Funds in compliance with any instructions which these authorities may issue, ensure EU funded expenditure is properly accounted for and managed, and ensure compliance with EU policies, particularly regarding public procurement, publicity, the environment and equality.
