asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the special cross-Border fund programme.

The Special Border Areas Programme, which is centrally administered by my Department, is being implemented by a number of Government Departments, local authorities and State agencies.

The total allocation from the Exchequer envisaged in the special programme over the five-year period 1981-1985 is IR£21 million approximately, of which 50 per cent will be reimbursed from the non-quota section of the European Regional Development Fund. To date a total of £10.045 million has been provided by the Exchequer for the implementation of the programme. On the basis of the most up-to-date estimates from the various Departments and agencies concerned, it is expected that the total amount provided to date will have been spent practically in full by the end of this year, leaving a further £11 million that will fall to be provided by the Exchequer during the remainder of the programme.

I am satisfied that, with the co-operation of the various agencies, local authorities and Government Departments implementing the programme, the objective of improving the economic and social situation of the Border counties, notably by strengthening their tourism potential, will be considerably advanced by the programme.

In view of the fact that this fund is orientated towards tourism, would the Minister be prepared even at this stage to consider the appointment of a co-ordinator for the fund, possibly someone from the Department of Trade and Tourism or from within Bord Fáilte?

As I have said on at least three occasions since we started these questions, my Department have central responsibility for administering the programme. We have set in place proper co-ordination procedures and I am satisfied that those procedures are bringing about the result we want. This is reflected by the fact that at the end of this year the total amount of money allocated to the programme from the Exchequer and from the European side will have been used and used usefully.

If it is the position that the industry is not satisfied that the programme is being co-ordinated properly by the Department, would the Minister take that into consideration with a view to appointing a co-ordinator from within the Department or from within Bord Fáilte?

That is a repeat of an earlier question.

The Deputy is confusing a number of matters. There is no such thing as an industry that would in any way be either satisfied or dissatisfied with this programme. However, if the Deputy is saying that the agencies, the local authorities and other prople involved in the programme are not satisfied with its operation, I will be very happy to discuss the matter with him. As he is aware, I have discussed it with him and with a number of his colleagues from that side of the House as well as with a number of Deputies on this side and also with representatives of the various interest groups involved. From all of those discussions I have concluded that the kind of action we have taken to ensure a proper takeup of these funds is the kind of action that is required most.