Written answers

Tuesday, 9 May 2006

9:00 pm

Photo of Beverley FlynnBeverley Flynn (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Finance if, having regard to the fact that the National Development Plan is part of the Agenda 2000 Agreement, which in turn enabled the designation of two separate regions here to facilitate the access to EU structural funding necessary for balanced regional development, subsequent underspending or reallocation of funding committed to either region is in breach of the aforementioned binding agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17166/06]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's allocation of Structural Funds for the current programming period 2000-2006 is governed by the Structural Funds regulations and an agreement between the Government and the European Commission known as the Community Support Framework for Ireland 2000-2006.

The regulations do not permit the transfer of the overall allocation of Structural Funds between the Border, Midland and Western and the Southern and Eastern Regions. No transfer of the resources has been sought by the Government and there are no proposals being considered for such action.

Expenditure on co-funded measures must be incurred before the end of December 2008 to be eligible for the draw down of Structural Funds. Reports to the Monitoring Committees for each of the Operational Programmes for the period January 2000 to December 2005 indicated that the Structural Funds allocated to each Region under the Community Support Framework are on target and based on these reports I expect that Ireland's entitlement to Structural Funds will be fully drawn down in line with the timetable set out under the regulations.

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