Billy Timmins
Ceist:51 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the specific objectives and strategies under the national development plan are on target. [6993/01]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
My Department is the designated managing authority for two of the operational programmes under the national development plan. These are the Productive Sector Operational Programme and the Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme.
The objectives and strategies outlined in the national development plan, which relate to my Department, were drawn up in close consultation with Departments and the implementing agencies, which include Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and FÁS.
Under the plan, the Departments and agencies have been set ambitious targets, in particular in relation to the development of the Objective One – BMW – Region. For example, under the Productive Sector Operational Programme, IDA Ireland have a target to locate 50% of all new green field jobs in that region.
The operational programmes under the NDP are monitored by their respective monitoring committees. My Department chairs both the monitoring committees for the productive sector OP and the employment and human resources development OP.
The first annual reports on the operational programmes will cover the year 2000. These reports are being compiled at present and are due to be considered by the monitoring committees in April-May. While my Department has not yet to hand the full returns for the last year, I am confident that over the period of the plan, the targets for both operational programmes are realistic and achievable. Both programmes will be subject to ongoing independent evaluation to ensure they remain focused and on target.