Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Cabinet
'European Recovery Programme: Implications of suspension of economic
assistance to Ireland'
(G.C. 6/64) (Item 6) (S15231)

Following consideration of a memorandum dated the 7th February, 1952,¹ submitted by the Minister for External Affairs relative to the implications of the suspension of economic assistance by the United States of America to Ireland, it was agreed

1. that the principle of a State-sponsored technical-assistance programme should be maintained notwithstanding that any dollar expenditure involved will no longer be defrayed by the United States’ Government;
2. that, for this purpose, the present Vote for Technical Assistance should be expanded in such a manner as to enable funds to be made available for technical-assistance projects of any kind, including visits by Irish technicians to any country abroad and visits by foreign technicians to Ireland;
3. that the standard contribution from State funds to a technical-assistance project should be 50% of the total cost of the project, with discretion for a larger proportionate contribution in exceptional cases, each project to be recommended by the appropriate Department and approved by the Department of Finance;
4. that, when the proposals for the utilisation of the moneys credited to the American Grant Counterpart Special Account are submitted to the United States’ authorities, the amount proposed in respect of technical assistance should be raised from that already approved by the Government, namely, £250,000, to £350,000, so as to provide for that part of the expenses which, under the programme of the Economic Co-operation Administration, were met by the United States’ authorities;
5. that the existing programme of projects, as described in Annex A to the Report, by the Inter-Departmental Committee on the European Recovery Programme, accompanying the memorandum, should be re-examined by the appropriate Departments in the light of the altered circumstances resulting from the withdrawal of the United States’ contribution; and
6. that such steps as are necessary should be taken to make it possible to resume negotiations without delay for the carrying into effect of projects contained in the existing programme which, on re-examination, are recommended by the Departments concerned and approved by the Department of Finance.