Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Union’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) is a unique regulation established specifically to provide support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial, and environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. The regulation is clear that in order to be eligible for BAR funding, the expenditure must fall within the eligibility period for expenditure which runs from the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2023. The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.

Following the BAR Regulation coming into force in October 2021, the Government allocated specific funding of €389 million in Budgets 2022 and 2023 across a number of sectors. A large proportion of that funding was allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who received €271 million in BAR funding across those budgets. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science also received a significant allocation of €37.3 million, which included, for example, funding towards training and reskilling for businesses or individuals impacted by Brexit.

Officials in my Department have been engaging in a review exercise of Brexit related spending across the eligibility period for possible inclusion in Ireland’s BAR claim to the EU Commission in September 2024. This involves engaging with Departments on spending outside of that allocated in Budgets 2022 and 2023 which may qualify for inclusion, and a figure of approximately €0.7 billion has been identified in this regard.

The exact composition of Ireland's BAR claim will not be finalised until the claim is submitted in September 2024. As work is ongoing by my Department to verify all Brexit-related spending for inclusion in the BAR claim it is not possible at this time to confirm individual projects or final amounts of expenditure in any sector that will be included in the BAR claim.

That being said, the Government has made significant investments across a range of sectors to mitigate Brexit impact. As noted above, very significant funding has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This funding was allocated across the Department’s areas of responsibility, with a large proportion going to Fisheries and Aquaculture initiatives as well as towards increasing operations in the ports following the UK becoming a 3rd country for customs purposes.

Other major recipients of investment include the Revenue Commissioners, to assist in increasing operational capacity to address the customs implications of Brexit for Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to support Brexit preparedness schemes and other supports for SMEs. Significant funding has also been allocated to the upgrade works in Rosslare port.