Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of project applications entered by the State under the European structural and investment funds for the period 2014 to 2021, per annum, in tabular form; the number of successful agreements to date; the estimated total expected drawdown of funds; and the total number of projects that support business growth and employability, skills development, investment and access to finance, develop green infrastructure and support social enterprise. [3732/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Within Ireland I, as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, have overall responsibility for EU Cohesion Policy and primary responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  The Minister for Education & Skills has primary responsibility for the European Social Fund (ESF). These two Funds, along with the Cohesion Fund (from which Ireland no longer benefits), the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (for which the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine has responsibility) now constitute the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).

Ireland has been allocated a total of €3.3bn in ESI Funding for the 2014 -2020 period (€1.2bn of Structural Funds for the ERDF and the ESF, €2.2bn from the EAFRD and €148m for the EMFF).  The policy context for the application of these allocations is set out in Ireland's Partnership Agreement () which is the overarching strategic document governing the ESI Funds.

The EU Regulations governing the ESI Funds outline eleven categories, known as Thematic Objectives, under which ESI funding may be spent by Member States. The funding priorities identified for Ireland's ESI Funds take account of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the National Reform programme. In line with these and with a position paper prepared by the Commission, the funding priorities identified for the 2014-2020 period are:

- promoting jobs and growth;

- combating unemployment and social exclusion;

- promoting R&D and ICT investment and the competitiveness of the business sector; and

- promoting an environmentally friendly and resource efficient economy.

These investment priorities are being progressed by several Government Departments and Agencies including, for example, the National Broadband Plan through the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment; the Rural Development Programme through the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; and energy retrofitting of social housing through the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government. Further details in relation to the individual Funds can be obtained from their Operational Programmes which can be found on the websites of the Managing Authorities for the Funds.