Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Brexit Supports

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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448.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the composition of Ireland's Brexit adjustment reserve claim; if it has been submitted to the EU authorities at this point; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35904/24]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the EU put in place funding support for Member States to mitigate the resulting impacts, in the form of a Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).

Ireland’s BAR allocation is €802 million, the largest allocation for any Member State. Ireland has received its share in the form of pre-financing - approximately €361.7m for 2021, €276.7m in 2022, and €163.7m in 2023.

In order to be eligible for BAR funding, expenditure must fall within the BAR eligibility period for expenditure that runs from the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2023.

Member states are required to submit their final claim to the Commission by the 30th of September 2024. The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.

Following the BAR Regulation coming into force in October 2021, the Government allocated specific funding of €389 million in Budgets 2022 and 2023 across a number of sectors. Further to this, officials in my Department have engaged in a review exercise of Brexit related spending outside of that allocated in Budgets 2022 and 2023 which may qualify for inclusion in Ireland’s BAR claim.

The exact composition of Ireland's BAR claim will not be finalised until the claim is submitted to the EU Commission. On that basis, as work is ongoing to finalise all Brexit-related spending to be included in the BAR claim, it is not possible at this time to confirm individual projects or final amounts of expenditure that will be included in the BAR claim.

That being said, the BAR fund has enabled the Government to make investments across a range of sectors to mitigate Brexit impact. These include for example: enterprise supports, measures to support fisheries and coastal communities, targeted supports for the agri-food sector, and checks and controls at Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort.

From this total BAR allocation received by Ireland, significant funding has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This funding was allocated across the Department’s areas of responsibility, with a large proportion going to Fisheries and Aquaculture initiatives. Significant funding was also provided to increase operations in ports and address the customs implications of Brexit, including through funding provided for upgrade works in Rosslare port.

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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449.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if support will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund to resource the development of football academies across the State, taking into account the impact of Brexit on the game in Ireland, and the employment and career prospects of young players; if a formal request has been made by the relevant Department to include support for the football sector under the terms of the BAR fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35905/24]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the EU put in place funding support for Member States to mitigate the resulting impacts, in the form of a Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). The BAR provides support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial and, environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.

In order to be eligible for BAR funding, expenditure must fall within the BAR eligibility period for expenditure that runs from the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2023.

Member states are required to submit their final claim to the Commission by the 30th of September 2024. The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.

On that basis, no further funding is available under the BAR.

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