Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 22 February 2018
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services 2018
Estimates for Public Services 2018
Votes 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
9:30 am
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I will begin with the easier question. I never expected to utter those words. On the question related to Brexit and cross-Border funding, I assure the Deputy that it is a major focus for me and my Department. I will comment on the current position and what we would like to achieve in the future. In the immediate aftermath of the referendum in the United Kingdom on leaving the European Union, my Department engaged with the British Treasury and I engaged extensively with the Special EU Programmes Body, SEUPB. Our first priority has been to secure existing programmes which are worth more than €500 million and will continue until 2020. In the aftermath of the referendum on Brexit, concerns were expressed that difficulties could arise in the roll-out of the next phase of the funding plan. We have addressed these concerns.
We have committed 73% of the funding available under the PEACE programme and 79 projects valued at €176 million have been approved. With regard to the INTERREG programme, the second major funding stream, we have committed 78% of the funding available under it and approved 27 projects valued at €208 million. My short-term priority was to ensure existing commitments were realised. I am confident that the programmes in place until 2020 will be completed. Beyond 2020, I am committed to implementing programmes to succeed the current INTERREG and PEACE programmes. The Department is examining the legal basis for EU programmes that operate in Third Countries, in other words, those operating in non-EU countries in which the European Union has a strong interest. I am committed to developing a means of maintaining this work.
The December statement on the Brexit negotiations included the following:
Both parties will honour their commitments to the PEACE and INTERREG funding programmes under the current multi-annual financial framework. Possibilities for future support will be examined favourably.
To respond to the Deputy's question on the secret service, it has been the custom and practice for the Dáil to waive its right to ascertain the purposes for which this allocation is used. I hope that practice will continue. I must supply all related documentation to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General which audits the use of the money. I ask that the current arrangement continue and expect that it will.
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