32 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, which has been made during the term of the present Government, particularly during the Irish Presidency of the EU, to ensure the future of EU structural funding for Ireland. [11549/97]

As the Deputy will be aware, financial provision for the current programme of Structural Funds runs until the end of 1999. The future of the Structural Funds post-1999 was not an issue on the agenda of the Council of Ministers during the Presidency.

Proposals are currently being drawn up within the Commission for the next round of Financial Perspectives, after 1999, which will make further provision for all EU policies and programmes, including the Structural Funds. It has been agreed that the Commission will table these proposals following the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Conference. If the Intergovernmental Conference concludes as planned at the meeting of the European Council in June, we expect the proposals to be tabled the following month. It is difficult to predict when the negotiations will conclude, but they are likely to extend at least until the end of the year.

The Government has taken, and will continue to take, all appropriate steps to ensure that Ireland's continuing development needs are taken into account in the Commission's proposals and in the subsequent negotiations. We have maintained close contact with the Commission at both political and official level. For example, the Taoiseach visited Brussels at the beginning of March and held meetings with President Santer, Commissioner Wulf-Mathies and other Commissioners and gave a report of his meetings in reply to questions in this House.