Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount spent to date under the economic and social infrastructure operational programme under the national development plan; the breakdown of the amount spent in each region under the plan; the amount estimated to be spent by the end of the NDP with a breakdown for each region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24635/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme (ESIOP) is one of five main Operational Programmes prepared within the framework of Ireland's National Development Plan (NDP) and the Community Support Framework 2000-2006 (CSF) agreed between the Irish Government and the European Commission. The Programme provided for a total infrastructural investment of €26.019 billion, of which €6.999 billion was earmarked for the BMW Region and €19.020 billion for the South and East Region.

Total cumulative expenditure from the start of the Programme in 2000 up to the end of 2006 was €28.539 billion. Of this sum, €6.828 billion was spent in the BMW Region and €21.711 billion was spent in the South and East Region. The NDP 2000-2006, of which the ESIOP is a major component, came to a formal end on 31st December, 2006 and has been succeeded by the NDP 2007-2013. However, projects in four areas (National Roads, Public Transport, Waste Water and Sustainable Energy) continue to benefit from EU financial assistance provided from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) towards the ESIOP. Expenditure on these EU co-funded projects continues to be eligible for EU aid up to the end of December, 2008. The Department of Transport, as the managing authority for the ESIOP under EU Regulations, is currently collating expenditure data on the EU co-funded areas for the first 6 months of 2007, together with forecasts, for presentation to a meeting of the Monitoring Committee which oversees the implementation of the ESIOP. This information will be provided to the Deputy following review and approval by the Monitoring Committee at its next meeting on 14th November, 2007.