Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of the money allocated to his Department from European funds for each of the years 2000 to 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5186/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to EU Structural Funds allocated to Ireland over the period 2000-2006. My Department was allocated funding under two of four funds which make up the Structural Funds — the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): Three measures within the Productive Sector Operational Programme were funded under the ERDF in the 2000-2006 period. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was allocated funding for the Industry RTDI measure and technical assistance. The Department of Education and Science was allocated funding for the Education RTDI measure.

As ERDF funding was allocated across a number of different Operational Programmes and my Department does not have overall responsibility for ERDF funds, I am not in a position to state the percentage allocations made to this Department. However, the tables set out the actual allocations in each of the years 2000-2006 for funding under the Industry RTDI and Technical Assistance measures.

The Productive Sector Monitoring Committee agreed to the transfer of the 2001 ERDF Allocation to the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme.

European Social Fund (ESF): The ESF is made up of four Operational Programmes (OPs) and one Community Initiative (CIs) in Ireland which were allocated a total of €1097.65 million over the period 2000-2006. The table shows the breakdown in funding allocated to each of these OPs and the CI.

My Department was allocated funding under the Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme (EHRD OP) and the EQUAL Community Initiative.

Under the EHRD OP, which represents 82.2% of total ESF funding allocated to Ireland for 2000-2006, my Department was allocated funding for FÁS-related measures, in-company training and technical assistance. A number of other Departments, including the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform were allocated funding under the EHRD OP. The table shows the funding allocated to my Department for the relevant measures out of the total EHRD OP funding allocated for 2000-2006.

Funding under the EQUAL Community Initiative, which represents 0.031% of ESF funding allocated to Ireland for 2000-2006, was allocated in full to my Department. The table shows the breakdown of EQUAL funding allocated for each year 2000-2006.

My Department has ensured that all ESF monies that were due to be drawn down from the EU to date have been successfully drawn down.