Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Finance the efforts he is making to implement EU cohesion policy, specifically towards development of the regions with regard to EU cohesion policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27987/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The central aim of EU cohesion policy is to reduce the economic and social disparities of the Union. The member states, their regions and the Commission are supported in their policy efforts mainly by the use of the Structural and Cohesion Funds. In Ireland's case, these funds, valued at around €3.7 billion over the period 2000 to 2006, are delivered through the community support framework, CSF. The CSF represents an agreement between Ireland and the European Commission for the support of a range of interventions in support of cohesion policy. The key objectives of the CSF 2000-06 are continuing sustainable economic and employment growth; consolidating and improving our international competitiveness; fostering balanced regional development; and promoting social inclusion.

In pursuit of the objective of balanced regional development, the strategy is delivered through three national operational programmes, OPs: economic and social infrastructure OP; productive sector OP; the employment and human resource development OP; and two regional OPs. The national OPs have specific funding envelopes for the BMW and south and east regions. They support investment in infrastructure, public transport, research and development, education and training. The regional programmes support local infrastructure, local enterprise, agricultural and rural development, child care and community development in the BMW and south and east regions. The regional assemblies, with members drawn from the regional authorities, are the managing authorities for the regional programmes.

Ireland, and both of its regions, has made considerable progress in achieving convergence with other member states of the Union. In terms of progress on economic development and employment, we now exceed the average EU levels for the key cohesion indicators of GDP per capita, employment rate, and the rate of unemployment.