Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of money allocated under the European agricultural guarantee fund and the European agricultural fund for rural development returned to the EU Commission for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, by fund. [47194/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) it is presumed that the Deputy is referring to EU-funded or co-funded expenditure undertaken by my Department which was the subject of an adjustment under the Clearance of Accounts procedure and had to be reimbursed to the Commission. The amounts are:

Year* Amount

2005 €1,207,467.70

2006 €170,297.64

2007 €4,708,670.72

2008 €4,679,023.51

2009 €3,155,401.13

*indicates the year in which the formal decision by the Commission to recover the money was published.

Regarding the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, prior to 2007, the Guidance section of the European Agriculture Guarantee and Guidance Fund covered payments under the Rural Development Programme 2000-2006 and the relevant details are included under paragraph above on EAGF.

The EAFRD replaced the Guidance section from 1 January 2007. All EAFRD allocations were drawn down on foot of eligible expenditure and no amounts have been returned to the Commission.