Written answers

Wednesday, 13 July 2016

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

EU Funding

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the new INTERREG programme will be operational; the funding allocated for this programme; the financial contribution by the European Union, by the Irish Government and by the British Government.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21582/16]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission formally adopted the 2014-2020 INTERREG Cooperation Programme for the Border Region of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland on 13 February 2015.  The Programme was opened for funding calls in August 2015. 

The INTERREG Programme has a total value of €283 million, with 85% being recouped from the European Regional Development Fund and the balance funded by the two Member States:

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ERDF€ 240.35m
Ireland€  12.57m
UK€  29.84m
Total € 282.76m  

The INTERREG programme has four key priority areas for investment, namely research and innovation, the environment, sustainable transport, and health.  Funding calls have issued for all priorities and the assessment of proposed projects is underway.Further project calls will issue during 2016 and 2017.

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to confirm that there will be no delays to projects funded through cross-Border bodies where contracts are due to be finalised within the next few months; if the result of the recent British European Union membership referendum will have any effect on the roll-out of these programmes.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21583/16]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In the wake of the UK Referendum on EU membership the Irish Government has been clear that it remains committed to the successful implementation of the EU funded PEACE and INTERREG programmes. The programmes are not only an important source of funding, but provide a visible demonstration of the European Union's continuing support for the process of peace building and reconciliation. Together they will see investment of more than half a billion euro in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland over the period 2014-2020, with 85% of that being contributed by the European Regional Development Fund. Funding calls have issued for both programmes and further project calls are planned during 2016 and 2017.

Immediately following the result of the UK Referendum, my officials made contact with the European Commission and also officials of the Northern Ireland Executive to underscore our commitment to the programmes and to discuss how they would continue to benefit from ERDF funding. They have also been in touch with officials of the Scottish and Welsh Governments, which are partners in our two INTERREG Programmes. 

In addition, the PEACE and INTERREG Programmes were discussed by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive at the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin Castle on 4 July 2016, where both administrations confirmed their continuing commitment to the Programmes. The Northern Ireland Finance Minister, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, and I considered the matter further at a bilateral meeting in Dublin on 7 July 2016, where we discussed ways of securing the ERDF funding for the Programmes, including through engagement with the European Commission.

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