PRESS RELEASE

Dick Roche T.D. Minister of State for European Affairs signs Ireland’s National Strategy and Programmes for Ireland’s €2.6 billion EU Structural Funds Programmes

Dick Roche T.D. Minister of State for European Affairs, today signed Ireland’s 2007-2013 national strategy and Regional Programmes for EU Structural Funds with Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner in Brussels.

Ireland’s national strategy – the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), negotiated and agreed over the past number of months with the Commission, sets out in broad terms how Ireland will invest €1.9 billion of Exchequer funding and €750 million of EU Structural Funds over the next seven years to strengthen human capital, to support research and development and to strengthen the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Regions.

The broad priorities in the framework will take shape through three operational programmes: one for investing in human resources (part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF)), one for Southern and Eastern Region (part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)), and one for the Border, Midlands and Western Region (part funded by the ERDF).

Ireland's strategic priorities for EU Structural Funds over the period 2007-2013, have been designed to compliment the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, which is the key investment vehicle for addressing Ireland’s social and economic needs. The strategic priorities for the NSRF are:

1. Promote investment in human capital through upskilling the workforce, increasing participation in the workforce and activating groups outside the workforce. The authorities will focus on women, people with disabilities, lone parents, travellers and ex-offenders. A special programme will also target migrants, as they make a very significant contribution to the economy.
2. Support innovation, knowledge and entrepreneurship in the regions. The objective is to boost research and development (R&D) in areas and institutions (including Institutes of Technology) where this capacity has been lacking in the past.
3. Strengthen the competitiveness, attractiveness and connectivity of the National Spatial Strategy Gateways and Hubs, through improved access to quality infrastructure and promoting environmental and sustainable development. There will be a special focus on inter-Gateway/Hub connectivity and innovative environmental solutions.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen T.D. will officially launch the Programmes on Monday 17th December at the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore County Offaly.

14^th December, 2007

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Each Member State is required to prepare a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), coherent with the Community Strategic Guidelines for 2007-2013, in the course of an ongoing dialogue with the Commission. That document defines the strategy chosen by the State and proposes a list of Operational Programmes (OPs) that it plans to implement.

Ireland’s total allocation under the 2007-2013 period of EU Structural Funds is €901 million. Ireland has been allocated €750 million under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective which is concentrated on supporting innovation, sustainable development, and better accessibility to training projects. The regional breakdown of funding is €458 million for the BMW Region and €292 million for the S&E Region. As was the case in the 2000-2006 period 50% of the funding is to be allocated to labour market activity funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). An additional €151 million has been allocated over the seven years under the Territorial Cooperation Objective which funds cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation programmes including the PEACE III programme. Separately to these Programmes Ireland has also been allocated €2.3 billion in CAP/Rural Development funding from the EU for the period 2007-2013 under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The 2007-2013 Structural Funds Programmes in Ireland will play a complementary role in relation to the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 and will focus on niche investments in employment, innovation, research and development and strengthening the competitiveness, attractiveness and connectivity of the National Spatial Strategy Gateways and Hubs.

The €184 billion National Development Plan 2007-2013 builds on the significant social and economic achievements of the NDP/CSF (2000-2006). Launched in January 2007, and entitled Transforming Ireland - A Better Quality of Life for All, this new seven year plan is another major milestone in building a prosperous Ireland for all its people, characterised by sustainable economic growth, greater social inclusion and balanced regional development.

The Plan is the largest and most ambitious investment programme ever proposed for Ireland. It builds on, and consolidates, the achievements of the previous Plan, and provides €54.6 billion for investment in economic infrastructure; €49.6 billion for social inclusion measures (children, people with disabilities, etc.); €33.6 billion for social infrastructure (housing, health, justice, etc.); €25.8 billion for human capital (schools, training, higher education, etc.), and €20 billion for enterprise, science and innovation.

The NDP/CSF (2000-2006) involved an investment of €57 billion of Public, Private and EU funds in numerous projects and initiatives throughout the country including education, roads, public transport, health services, social housing, rural development, industry, water and waste services, childcare and local development.

The Irish NSRF is available at:

www.finance.gov.ie

The Human Capital Investment OP is available at:

www.entemp.ie

The Border, Midland and Western Region Operational Programme is available at:

www.bmwassembly.ie

The Southern and Eastern Region Operational Programme is available at:

www.seregassembly.ie

The NDP 2007-2013 is available at:

www.ndp.ie