asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if industrial projects under 50,000 units of account qualify for aid under the proposed EEC Regional Fund.
74.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Regional Fund.
73.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if aid from the proposed EEC Regional Fund to industrial projects will supplement aid given at national level.
75.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs how Ireland might now benefit from EEC regional policies.
76.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will explain the decongestion policy proposed in regard to EEC regional policy.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 76, inclusive, together.
As Deputies are aware, the Council of Ministers is considering proposals from the Commission of the European Communities on Community regional policy. Until agreement is reached on these proposals, it is not possible to state how Community regional policy will benefit this country.
The proposal from the Commission for a Council regulation establishing a Regional Development Fund includes a provision that contributions from the fund may finance investments in industrial or service activities which benefit from a national system of regional aids, provided that the amount of the investment exceeds 50,000 units of account. The Council has not adopted any decision on the question of how aid from the proposed Regional Fund should fit into national systems of regional aid.
The regional policy proposals, currently under consideration by the Council, make no specific provision for decongestion incentives. However, the Commission's proposal for a Council decision on the creation of a Committee for Regional Policy to co-ordinate the regional policies of the member states provides that one of the tasks of the committee would be to study:
national measures designed to discourage investment in congested areas with the aim of facilitating the elaboration by the institutions of the Community of a coherent policy in this respect.
As Deputies will be aware, the setting up of a Regional Fund continues to be delayed by disagreement on its size and distribution among the member states.
Question No. 77 postponed.