Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of witnesses. The organisations they represent have come through a lot of issues with us over the years. I will keep my contribution brief because I am aware that other members wish to contribute. I mentioned to the Department a while ago that 40% of farmers receive less than 5% in direct payments, with 8% receiving less than €1,500. I will not name individual farmers but I have a list here showing that some are receiving single farm payments of €300,000, €250,000 and €220,000. The Department has indicated that reducing payments to these guys would not make a hell of a big change for the guy on €3,000, €4,000 or €5,000. At the same time, it sends a very negative message when some people get payments of €200,000 or €300,000, while other farmers with sizeable lands, perhaps hill land or land obtained at a bad time, are not even getting €5,000. That is the bottom line.

I will direct two questions to Mr. Dermot Kelleher of the ICSA. The early retirement scheme is very important, as are other issues, but is it fair that a farmer with a dairy herd of 300, 500 or up to 1,000 cows would get the same payment per hectare as a suckler or sheep farmer? The second question is for Mr. Kelleher or anyone else. What is the best use of rural development programme, RDP, funds in this context?