Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh. I apologise for the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, who is overseas. The total resources available at Union level for ERDF were determined as part of the overall negotiations of the multi-annual financial framework for the period from 2021 to 2027. The resources allocated to each member state were based on the amounts calculated for each of the individual regions by the Commission using averaged EUROSTAT data from the relevant reference years, in this case 2015 to 2017. A methodology for allocation among different categories of regions and the criteria for determining these categories were agreed among member states. While the weightings and amounts used in the calculations vary according to the category of region, the allocations for transition regions and more developed regions are established by taking account of population, relative GDP per capita, level of unemployment, level of youth unemployment, level of education attainment, level of greenhouse gas emissions, level of net migration from outside the European Union and, in the case of more developed regions, population density.

It was on the basis of this agreed methodology that Ireland was allocated €396 million in ERDF funding. From this allocation, the northern and western region, Ireland's only region in transition, was allocated €110 million and the southern and the eastern and midland regions, deemed more developed regions, were allocated €285 million. These allocations reflected the above variables for the regions.

Subsequently, in recognition of the region in transition status of the northern and western region, it was decided to transfer €20 million in ERDF resources from the two more developed regions to the northern and western region. The Department, in conjunction with the regional assemblies, then engaged with the Commission on this matter and secured its agreement on this use of ERDF funds. This increased the allocation in the northern and western region to more than €130 million. This meant that the allocation per capita, including matching Exchequer funding, in the northern and western region, was approximately €320 as opposed to approximately €160 per capitain the south and east. The regions differ significantly with regard to population. The southern and eastern regions have a far greater population.

The northern and western region is also able to avail of other supports. The new EU co-funded PEACEPLUS programme for 2021 to 2027 will invest in excess of €1.1 billion in projects to build peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland.

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