1. OVERVIEW OF STRUCTURAL FUNDS IN IRELAND 1989-2006 1

2. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Structural Fund history in Ireland • The National Development Plans • Structural Fund contribution to the NDPs • Ireland’s economic performance and Structural Funds • Lessons 2

3. HISTORY OF STRUCTURAL FUNDS IN IRELAND • Structural Funds a well-established tool of EU regional policy • ESF (1958), EAGGF (1958), ERDF (1975), FIFG (1994), Cohesion Fund (1992) • 1988 – major reform of Structural Funds at EU level • large increase in Structural Fund assistance for Ireland • 3 Irish National Development Plans • 1989-93, 1994-99, 2000-06 • Ireland has received over €17 bn in support since 1973 • over 75% of support received since 1989 3

4. IRELAND IN 1988 Source: Eurostat, Central Statistics Office (Ireland) 4

5. THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS 5

6. SHIFT IN PRIORITIES – NDP OBJECTIVES 6

7. CHANGES IN NDP STRUCTURES • Evolution from “spending plan” to “strategy” • Fewer but larger OPs • Change in Structural Fund status – Objective 1 in Transition • Move to some regional implementation – BMW and S+E • % contribution of Structural Funds to NDPs has decreased 7

8. STRUCTURAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO NDPs * includes all EU, public and private forecast expenditure 8

9. IRISH CONVERGENCE – SLOW COMING GDP at current market prices per head of population, 1973-2003 (PPS; EUR-15 = 100) Source: Department of Finance Ireland, & Eurostat 9

10. IRELAND’S PERFORMANCE 1988-2003 Source: Eurostat, Central Statistics Office Ireland 10

11. WHAT CAUSED THE CELTIC TIGER? Macro Policy Social Partnership Global Economy Enterprise Policy Labour Supply Infrastructure “Structural Funds” 11

12. LESSONS • Structural Funds have been a big “+” for Ireland • Direct impact (e.g. infrastructure, tourism) and indirect impact (e.g. enhanced planning, project management and evaluation) BUT … • A contributory factor to Irish success, not the dominant factor • More to do (without significant Structural Fund assistance) 12