Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way it transpired that tourism, cultural and heritage organisations in the inland counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare and Tipperary are prevented from accessing valuable INTERREG funding by the restriction to coastal counties outlined in the new Ireland-Wales Co-operation Programme (INTERREG) 2014 to 2020 Citizens Summary document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24405/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, in relation to Priority Access 3: Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage, the drafting process led to the final version of the Citizens Summary featuring such explicit changes, from the 2014 consultation cocument, excluding inland counties from the Axis and focusing solely on coastal areas; if he will justify this seismic change of focus in relation to this specific aspect of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24406/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, in relation to Priority Axis 2: Adaption to Climate Change, the drafting process led to the final version of the Citizens Summary featuring such explicit changes, from the 2014 Consultation Document, excluding inland counties from the Axis and focusing solely on coastal areas; if he will justify this seismic change of focus in relation to this specific aspect of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24407/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together.

The Ireland Wales Co-Operation Programme has a total value of approximately €100 million over the period 2014-2020. It will support projects with partners in both Ireland and Wales focussing on activities across three priority areas: cross-border innovation; adaptation of the Irish Sea and coastal communities to climate change; and cultural and natural resources and heritage.

The Programme was prepared in line with the reformed Cohesion Policy for 2014-20, which has a new focus on thematic concentration, performance, and results. The final Programme was the result of a detailed process of programme planning in line with EU regulations, and included public consultation and negotiations with the Commission.

Given that the Ireland Wales border is a maritime border, the Programme must have a maritime focus. Nevertheless, the eligible area in Ireland includes inland counties (Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, and Tipperary) as well as coastal counties (Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Kerry).

Project partners in any of the counties in the eligible area may put forward project proposals for any of the priorities. As a cross-border Programme, projects must have partners in both Ireland and Wales and they must have a cross-border added-value element. In the case of one of the three priorities (cultural and natural resources and heritage) the project benefits must accrue to coastal communities. This was a requirement of the European Commission and applies equally to Ireland and Wales. Inland counties are not precluded from taking part in this priority, but the benefits must accrue to the coastal community as well as to the non-coastal community.