Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Feb 1994

Vol. 439 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Union Grants.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

4 Mr. O'Malley asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that many Irish citizens and companies have in becoming aware of the various programmes, grants and other support structures available to them, provided by the European Union; if he will make it the responsibility of appropriate agencies and Government Departments to ensure that the level of awareness of all potentially available grants is maximised; and if it is desirable that, in practice, this sort of information is available to a lot of smaller companies only if they pay a substantial fee to a private agency specialising in the dissemination of this kind of information.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. T. Kitt)

I am aware of some criticism from Irish companies and individual citizens on the difficulty they face in obtaining user-friendly information on the range of European Union grants and other support measures available. Indeed this is just a feature of a comprehension deficit which exists in relation to European Union affairs generally and which was particularly highlighted in the European debate on the Maastricht Treaty.

It is against this background that I launched the Government's new "Communicating Europe" initiative on Friday last. This initiative, for which £100,000 was allocated in the recent budget for 1994 will involve a wide ranging programme across a number of headings to raise public awareness and understanding of European issues and in the process to ensure that information on European affairs is made available to the public in clear terms.

One objective of the initiative to which I specifically referred last Friday is to ensure the preparation of accessible and readable information on European funding. In achieving this objective I intend to rectify the difficulties in the existing information network adverted to in the Deputy's question.

However, much useful and clear information on grants and other European Union financial supports is currently being provided by various public sector bodies, as well as by the Dublin Office of the European Commission. No charge is levied for this information and I urge all prospective information seekers to avail of these existing free information outlets. For the future, the task is to ensure a coordinated approach that will, in particular, bring about a situation where information is freely available to those who need it throughout the country. The Deputy can be assured that as part of the "Communicating Europe" initiative I will be working in conjunction with the relevant Government Departments and agencies to ensure this.

I understand the Deputy's concern and this is one of the reasons behind the initiative. Information is available free of charge from many national agencies and Government Departments. In most cases the grants come through Government Departments and agencies. User-friendly information will be provided in booklet form in the near future which is part and parcel of the Government's "Communicating Europe" strategy.

Miss Harney

To which State agency would a small company go if it wished to get a grant from the European Union?

Mr. T. Kitt

It would depend on the programme relevant to the company. There are many programmes, for example if it is a tourism project, it would go to Bord Fáilte. The company would have to go to the relevant Department, national agency, or in some cases to the IDA, Forbairt or FÁS. There are many grant supports from Europe and one has to go to the relevant agency. That is one of the reasons I launched the "Communicating Europe" initiative as I agree there is a problem.

The Commission's office provides this information and there are many other outlets. Under my initiative it will be available in local libraries and in information centres in local authorities. There are problems in bringing it together but the Government Departments are the basic route to go.

Mr. R. Bruton

Will the Minister of State agree that the network of local authorities is under-utilised in disseminating information? Does he consider it appropriate that information centres are established in the local authorities which could handle not only information about Europe but other relevant information that should be accessible in every country?

Mr. T. Kitt

I agree that local authorities are under-utilised. When I was preparing the "Communicating Europe" initiative I went to see the Paris information office, an office put together by the Government and the Commission but it did not meet Irish requirements. A regional and local based scheme would be more appropriate. An element of the strategy of "Communicating Europe" will be a series of regional conferences as a way of bringing the process to the people. I agree that we must involve the local authorities in a more pro-active way in the regions and this is part of our work. We have set up a task force which will report to me in July on this among other issues.

Mr. McCormack

Would it not be in everybody's interest to establish a liaison office between the Government and the European Union? Is he aware there may be a long delay before information requested from a Government Department is supplied and that this can lead to long delays in the sanctioning of grants for essential schemes. I know a case where there was a year's delay.

Mr. T. Kitt

The Strategy will be to adopt a more cohesive approach. As Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, I have access to other Departments. Deputies may not be aware that I chair an interdepartmental committee which meets on a monthly basis. I appreciate the Deputy's concerns and it is our aim to have a more efficient communications system.

Mr. McCormack

I will pass on the vital information I have received.

An Ceann Comhairle

The questions we are about to embark upon are priority questions for which 20 minutes only are provided for in Standing Orders.