John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of funding made available to his Department by the European Union since Ireland's accession to the Union in respect of schemes and projects funded either in part or in whole by various Government Departments. [4248/08]

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

My Department is responsible for, amongst other things, overall policy in relation to Ireland's EU Structural and Cohesion Funds. It also plays a central role in the development and monitoring of the programmes/projects through which the Funds are drawn down. Ireland has qualified for Structural Funds since we joined the EU in 1973 and for the Cohesion Fund from 1993 when it was established. However, due to the economic progress the country has made, Ireland no longer qualifies for Cohesion Funding since 2004.

Since Ireland joined the EU in 1973 we have been allocated approximately €18bn in EU Structural Funds (which comprises the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF)) and the Cohesion Fund. The information is set out by period in the table below. From 1989 to the present, the EU monies have been invested through multi-annual investment programmes administered by various Government Departments. Prior to 1989 the monies were invested on a project by project basis by Departments.

I wish to inform the Deputy that in addition to the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds outlined above, the EU provides monies to Ireland through a number of other funds principally through FEOGA (CAP), and the Rural Development Fund. My colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be able to provide additional information in relation to these Funds.