1. What are the role and tasks of the Managing Authority in the area of prior appraisal and the preparation of an interim evaluation that is effective and to the point? Jim Higgins Department of Finance Dublin

2. Objectives of NDP 2000-2006 for Ireland  continuing sustainable economic growth & employment  fostering balanced regional development  promoting social inclusion.

3. Key requirements for evaluation (a)clear terms of reference set by the Managing Authority (b)an independent multi-disciplinary evaluation team (c)competent steering group

4. Technical requirements for prior appraisal  Explanatory model of economic growth process  Microeconomic analytical framework

5. Microeconomic analytical Framework  public goods  corrective subsidies  targeted subsidies  redistributional subsidies.

6. Prior evaluation and ex-ante evaluation  Public access to reports

7. Mid-term Evaluation  Purpose Reprogramming advice

8. Guiding Principles  Rationale  Continued relevance  Effectiveness  Efficiency  Impact

9. Key requirements for the mid-term evaluation  clear terms of reference  independent evaluation team  steering group  core terms of reference for OPs  performance indicators

10. Institutional Requirement  Central Evaluation Unit

11. Summary Tasks of Managing Authority  set terms of reference  select an independent evaluation team  competent steering committee  commitment to implementation  Publish evaluations  central coordination