Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

There are 94 commitments in the programme for Government for which my Department has direct responsibility. In the first year of the Government's five-year term, 67% of these commitments have been implemented or are, by their nature, being implemented on an ongoing basis. A detailed report on progress achieved is published on the web site of the Department of the Taoiseach,www.taoiseach.gov.ie. The following is a list of examples of major commitments that are being implemented.

The assignment to my Department of overall responsibility for the development and promotion of the agrifood sector is being strategically progressed through high-level interdepartmental groups and proactive sectoral policies. For the first time, the value of food and drink exports from Ireland reached €9.2 billion in 2007. The resources made available to Bord Bia have enabled it to exceed the Government target of doubling food exports to Asia two years ahead of target.

Grant assistance of €114 million is being provided for capital investment for the dairy processing sector. This will generate an estimated capital spend of about €286 million. Investment of €30 million has been put in place for innovative initiatives in the prepared consumer foods sector.

Significant funding has been provided to develop the competitiveness and sustainability of the overall agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector through the proactive implementation of the rural and national development plans. Payment levels under the rural environment protection scheme have increased by 17%. The average annual payment has grown from €6,170 to €7,220. Total payments in 2007 and 2008, to date, amount to €525 million. The provision for 2009 has been increased to €355 million. Almost €114 million was provided under the farm waste management scheme in 2007. Over €375 million will be spent on the scheme in 2008. This compares well to the agreed total allocation under the Towards 2016 agreement. The relevant section of that agreement states:

Payments under the new Farm Waste Management measure will be financed, at the rates already announced, from this funding package. A total of €350 million will be allocated for farm waste and other on-farm investment measures.

Advance payments of €532 million have already been issued under the 2008 single payment scheme, six weeks ahead of the normal commencement date. Balancing payments will commence on 1 December next and will continue as individual cases are cleared. In 2007, payments worth approximately €1.3 billion were issued under the scheme. A similar level of payment is expected under the 2008 scheme. The value of annual forestry premiums has been increased by 15%. The 100% establishment grants and 20-year payment period have been retained. Some €230.9 million has been spent on afforestation initiatives in 2007 and to date in 2008. The forestry provision for 2009 has been increased by 6% to €128 million. Some €42 million has been allocated for the voluntary fishing fleet decommissioning scheme to assist fleet restructuring and increase the level of fish quotas available for those remaining in the industry. In excess of €18 million was spent in 2007 on improving fisheries infrastructure and landing facilities under the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure programme. A further €17 million has been provided to make progress with this work in 2009. This is an impressive list of achievements by any standards. It demonstrates the Government's commitment to the agri-food sector. We are keen to make progress with the commitments set out in the five-year programme for Government.

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