Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and I welcome the fact that the European Commission is committed to a post-2020 programme. My questions asked the Minister if there is ongoing contact with the authorities in Northern Ireland and with his counterpart in Britain on the commitment of the British Government and the authorities in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, the Minster does not have a counterpart to speak to in Northern Ireland because of the antics of Sinn Féin and the DUP. Unfortunately there is not an assembly or Executive working on behalf of the people there.

Has the Minister or his officials had ongoing contact with the British Government on its commitment to programmes post 2020? Since the mid-1990s, the programmes have been 85% funded by the European Commission and they have been an important funding stream for community and infrastructure development on both sides of the Border. What is the commitment from the British at this time to a successor programme?

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