John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure that adequate and equivalent funding is available to inland counties not covered by the Ireland-Wales INTERREG programme for the period 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27411/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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While the Ireland Wales border is a maritime border, the Ireland Wales Programme nevertheless includes inland counties (Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary) within the eligible area, as well as coastal counties (Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Kerry).

The Programme, which has a total value of approximately €100 million over the period 2014-2020, 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. 

Project partners in any of the counties in the eligible area, including inland counties, may put forward project proposals for any of the priorities.  As a cross-border Programme, projects must of course 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 is a requirement of the European Commission and applies equally to Ireland and Wales.  Inland counties are not precluded from taking part in this priority, however, but the benefits must accrue to the coastal community as well as to the non-coastal community.

Irish counties outside the eligible area for the Ireland Wales Programme, regardless of whether they are inland or coastal, are of course eligible for funding under Ireland's two regional Operational Programmes under the European Regional Development Fund, which together have a total value of more than €800 million, including Exchequer funding.