EU could fund 75% of Public Facility at Causeway
23 October 2007
Statement by Jim Allister MEP:
"One of the aspects of the Causeway controversy which I have been investigating is the extent of EU funding which might be available for a visitors' centre. As I expected, it turns out that twice as much EU funding could be available to a public project as would be possible with a private project. A public project could attract EU support of up to 75% of total project costs, but the best a private project could attract would be 37.5%.
To confirm the position I wrote to DETI Minister, Nigel Dodds, asking him to set out the levels of funding available. His reply contains the following:-
"If a public sector project were to proceed under the Territorial Co-operation Programme, it might be eligible for EU support of up to 75% of total project costs. A private sector project could apply to the NITB for up to 50% of total project costs, which might be eligible for 75% EU support under the Territorial Co-operation Programme (in effect, 37% % of total project costs).
A project could also qualify for EU support under the Competitiveness Programme which attracts a maximum of 50% EU funding. A public sector project progressed under this route might therefore be eligible for EU grant of up to 50% of project costs. A private sector project application to NITB for up to 50% of project costs might be eligible for 50% EU support under the Competitiveness Programme (in effect 25% of total project costs).
Any EU funding, whether for a public or private project, would need to be found from within the total EU funding allocated to NI...."
While there is no certainty that EU funding would be guaranteed, the possibility of attaining 75% support from Brussels seems to me a proper consideration in the public interest, which makes DETI's willingness to abandon the public project all the more puzzling. There might also be the prospect of Lottery funding. These facts also give a more balanced context for judging what would be a value for money investment by DETI.
Given that the Causeway is our greatest national asset, fundamentally, I disagree with its exploitation becoming a matter for private profit, when a public project is viable. The prospect of substantial EU aid gives an added dimension of advantage to a public project."
