Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 251: To ask the Minister for Finance the action which will be taken regarding unspent monies allocated to the Border Midland Western and south and east regions under the current round of EU structural funds, when this round ends later in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16531/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Structural Funds investments are delivered through seven Operational Programmes under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000 to 2006. These Programmes are directly managed and implemented by Government Departments, the Regional Assemblies or other agencies.

Under the EU Structural Funds regulations, expenditure incurred on EU co-funded measures can continue up to the end of 2008 in order to draw down our full entitlement of Structural Funds. The same regulations require that each annual commitment of Structural Funds to an Operational Programme must be drawn down within two years of the year of commitment otherwise the funds are lost.

The most recent monitoring data reported to my Department indicates that at the end of December 2005, the Structural Funds expenditure for January 2000 to December 2005 stands at 99% of target for the corresponding period. Based on progress reported to date, I believe that Ireland will drawdown its remaining entitlements to Structural Funds for both the Border, Midlands and Western Region and the Southern and Eastern Region.

The data also indicates that overall some €44.8 billion has been expended under the NDP/CSF over the period January 2000 to the end of December 2005. This represents 90% of total target expenditure for the corresponding period. The Managing Authority for each of the Operational Programmes has systems in place to monitor the ongoing implementation of the co-funded measures. Additional monitoring is carried out by a Monitoring Committee which meets twice yearly to oversee the ongoing implementation of the Programmes. Each Department and Agency responsible for implementing the co-funded measures is required to ensure that the risk of loss of Structural Funds is minimised by prioritising expenditure on such measures.