asked the Minister for Finance if he agrees with the conclusion of the recently published NESC Report on Ireland in the European Community to the effect that the recently reformed European Structural Funds, as currently constituted, will not be sufficient to create convergence, let alone establish equality in regional economic structures on incomes.

I have already made clear the Government's position in this matter, in my recent reply to the debate on the NESC Report No. 88, "Ireland in the European Community: Performance, Prospects and Strategy". I would refer the Deputy to the Official Report for 25 October 1989, column 671. I would remind the Deputy that on that occasion I said that the Government shared the NESC view that the Structural Funds, as currently constituted, will not be sufficient to create convergence.

(Limerick East): Does the Minister expect to get any more money from the Structural Funds other than that which has already been notified?

On the unallocated funds for Community initiatives we expect to get a pro rata of about £160 million, that is, under the present Structural Funds which will be up for negotiations and propositions in the next two months.