Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding allocated for INTERREG under the Supplementary Estimate for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9143/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The INTERREG VA Programme is one of 60 cross-border programmes operating across the EU which are designed to overcome issues that arise due to the existence of a border. Theprogramme area includes the six border counties of Ireland, Northern Ireland and part of Western Scotland.

INTERREG VA focusses on four areas that are seen as crucial for job creation and growth: supporting cross-border initiatives to strengthen research and innovation; preserving and protecting the shared environment; promoting sustainable mobility across the borders; and enhancing cross-border collaboration for the provision of quality health and social care services.

The current INTERREG VA programme is due to conclude in 2023.

My Department has responsibility for funding projects under the Research and Innovation (R&I) strand of the current INTERREG VA programme, together with its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy. The funding ratio is split on a 30% (DETE) to 70% (DfE NI) basis.

Total funding available for the R&I strand (funded by the EU and participating Member States) is just over €70 million up to the end of the programme. My Department's commitment is €21 million over the seven-year programme and its budget allocation for its INTERREG VA projects in 2023 is €1.389 million, which is all capital funding.

The 2023 allocation for INTERREG is based on forecasting from the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The SEUPB has informed my Department that accurate forecasting for this programme can be difficult and forecasts provided can be subject to significant variation. The total funding required from the Department for the seven years of the programme has not changed and still stands at €21 million. This is the final year of the INTERREG VA programme, will fulfil the Department's commitment to the programme.