Implementation

---

8.4 Financial Management and Control Arrangements

8.4.9 Electronic Data Transfer

Article 18 of the Regulation requires that Operational Programmes contain a description of the arrangements agreed between the Commission and the Member State for the computerised exchange, where possible, of data required to fulfil the management, monitoring and evaluation requirements in respect of Structural Funds assistance. A computerised system is being developed in the Department of Finance for this purpose. The system will be used to monitor all NDP expenditure and associated indicators. Information will be collected and codified at project level for ERDF, the Cohesion Fund, and Community Initiatives and other non EU co-funded capital projects and at Measure level for other Structural Funds. With respect to codification, the Managing Authorities will furnish with the Programming Complement the link between each Measure and the corresponding category(ies) in the Commission’s list of fields of interventions. The system will facilitate the collection of financial information on a monthly basis and physical monitoring on a quarterly basis. Data will be inputted by the Implementing Bodies and mechanisms are being developed to support data transmission from these bodies.

The NDP/Structural Funds Computer System is designed to support programming, financial and physical monitoring and the making and monitoring of payments. It is based on a client/server application giving Government Departments and the Regional Assemblies access to a central database. All required financial and physical progress information, appropriately codified, including annual reports, to enable the European Commission to fulfil its responsibilities under the Structural Funds Regulations, will be relayed electronically to the Commission by the Managing and Paying Authorities, as appropriate. The frequency of electronic transmission will conform to the management requirements as agreed between the Commission and the Managing Authority and the Department of Finance.

Back to contents page