The European Commission has formally sanctioned the Government's €2.6 billion spending programme for EU structural funds for the period 2007 to 2013.
At a signing ceremony in Brussels yesterday, Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche committed to invest €1.9 billion exchequer funding and €750 million of EU funds in a range of projects to boost competitiveness in two regions.
Special programmes targeting migrants, Travellers, lone parents and people with disabilities in the Border midlands, west and the southern and eastern regions will be supported by the funds. The money will help to build broadband networks and fund incentives to boost research and development, said Mr Roche, who added that the funds were an example of how EU membership had benefited Irish people.
Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hubner said Ireland was one of the EU states that had made the best use of EU funds. "Times have now changed in Ireland but it remains a role model for other member states," she said.
Cllr James Holloway, who represented the southern and eastern regional assembly at the signing, said the assembly welcomed the funding and was now looking for more direct powers from central government to expand its own role.