Introduction

---

1.3 Requirements of the Operational Programme

Article 18 of the Structural Funds Regulation prescribes the content of each OP as including the Priorities of the programme, their consistency with the relevant Community Support Framework, their specific targets, quantified where they lend themselves to quantification, and an evaluation of the impact expected in accordance with Article 41(2), i.e. the impact in relation to the social and economic situation, the environmental situation and the situation in terms of equality as between men and women. In addition, a summary description of the Measures and their compliance with the aid schemes pursuant to Article 87 of the Treaty and an indicative Financing Plan are required. The summary descriptions in relation to the Measures are contained in the body of the OP. The State Aids compliance information is set out in Annex A and the indicative financing plan in Annex F.

Given the wide range of Measures included under each of the Regional OP Priorities and the complementary impact of the Inter-Regional OPs, it is difficult to identify indicators which can be directly and solely related to the impact of the OP at Priority level. However, a set of indicators at Measure level which capture the major effort of the proposed investment at Priority level has been identified as a proxy for such indicators. These indicators are solely indicative of progress on the implementation of the priorities and will not form the basis for determining the application of the Performance Reserve. The Priority level indicators are as follows.

Baseline data and targets for 2003 and 2006 for each of these indicators will be identified in the Programme Complements. In addition, qualitative information on impacts has been set down for each of the Priorities in the relevant chapters of the OP. Given the significant investment in Childcare Measures and the objective of increasing female participation in the workforce, information on employment participation rates by gender for those aged 20 to 50 by age of children will be compiled as part of the National Census in 2001 and 2006, subject to agreement with the Central Statistics Office on the specific format of the data.

Article 41 of the Structural Funds Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 of 21 June, 1999) requires that an ex-ante evaluation of the situation in the Region be set out in the Operational Programme. Article 41(2) provides that this evaluation shall cover, inter alia, an evaluation of the social and economic situation in the Region, including trends in the labour market, an ex-ante evaluation of the environmental situation in the region and an evaluation of the situation in terms of equality between men and women with regard to labour market opportunities, including access to education and vocational training, the establishment of women in business and the reconciliation of family and working life. This evaluation is set out in Chapter 2 of the Programme and has taken account of the ex-ante studies commissioned in the context of the National Development Plan, namely, the ESRI Study entitled National Investment Priorities 2000-2006 and the study by Fitzpatrick Associates on the BMW region. Account has also been taken of the separate ex-ante evaluation of the National Development Plan by the CSF Evaluation Unit.

Technical matters in relation to the Managing Authority and matters in relation to management and evaluation of the Operational Programme and the Monitoring Committee as required under Article 18(2)(d), are set out in Chapter 8.

Back to contents page