Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of project applications entered by the State under the European Structural and Investment Funds from 2014 to 2021, in tabular form; the number of successful agreements to date; the estimated amount of expected drawdown of funds; and the number of projects that support business growth and employability, skills development, investment and access to finance, develop green infrastructure and support social enterprise. [47064/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, I 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 €3.5bn 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 (www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Partnership-Agreement-Ireland-2014-2020.pdf) which is the overarching strategic document governing the ESI Funds.

With regard to the expected drawdown, it is expected that the allocated funds will be drawn down in full before programme closure. 

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 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 a large number of Agencies under their aegis.Further details in relation to the projects funded can be obtained on the websites of the Managing Authorities for the various Funds, links to which can be found on the ESIF website at .

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds allocated to Ireland over the 2014 to 2020 period and expended in each year to date; the breakdown between Exchequer funding and EU funding (details supplied), in tabular form. [47067/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has overall policy responsibility for the European Structural and Investment Funds, and has primary administrative responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Department of Education and Skills has primary responsibility for the European Social Fund. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine has primary responsibility for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The Connecting Europe Facility is managed by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. In relation to the Research and Innovation Framework Programme, this is a matter for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The queries in relation to these funds have been transferred to the relevant Departments for direct reply to the Deputy.

In relation to ERDF Ireland has been allocated €410,775,098 support for the programming period 2014-2020. Details of the indicative annual allocation are set out in the following table.

Allocation of  ERDF by year (total Union support)

It should be noted that this amount is matched with 50% Exchequer funding, therefore the total allocation for ERDF programmes is €821,550,196.

In relation to expenditure, each Member State is required to submit to the Commission an annual report on implementation of the programme in the previous financial year. The most recent report available is 2018.  The total spend to end 2018, including matching Exchequer funding, was €394,465,584.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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71. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Ireland will be eligible for EU cohesion funding in the MFF 2021-2027. [47073/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The post 2020 Cohesion Policy Legislative package, which includes the combined European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund Regulation, and the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), which sets the overall EU Budget for the next programming period, are still under negotiation and remain to be finalised. However, I can confirm that the Commission published their cohesion policy legislative package in May 2018 with an initial indicative allocation of Structural and Cohesion fund support for Ireland of approx.  €1.088 bn for the period 2021-2027. It is important to bear in mind that this figure has not been finalised, and there is no breakdown on the final allocation of funding between the ERDF, European Social Fund+ (ESF+), and European Territorial Cooperation (ETC)/INTERREG programme. As in the present round of funding, Ireland is not eligible for Cohesion Funding in the next round as Gross National Income (GNI per inhabitant) in Ireland is more than 90% of the EU average. 

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funds allocated to Ireland over the 2014 to 2020 period and expended in each year to date; the breakdown between Exchequer funding and EU funding (details supplied), in tabular form. [47067/19]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount allocated to Ireland under the European Social Fund under the MFF programme 2014 to 2020 and in the proposed 2021 to 2027 MFF programme, in tabular form. [47066/19]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount allocated to Ireland under the European Social Fund education and training, Erasmus PRO and the youth employment initiative budget for the 2014 to 2020 period (details supplied), in tabular form. [47068/19]