Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Up to now the modulated funds that were available, which were fairly small, went into the overall rural development programme. The Exchequer puts a substantial amount more into the rural development programme than the necessary requirement, because it is co-funded by the European Union. Deputy Doyle's point is correct in that there was an effort in the past to ensure the modulated funds would go to the broader rural development programme, which would encompass measures outside the farm gate. In the health check, I argued strenuously that the money should be retained on farms and not go to programmes that did not directly benefit individual farmers. Programmes will be introduced, particularly in the areas of climate change, water conservation, biodiversity and innovation, which can be availed of by individual farmers. I said in my initial response that the consultation process had begun and we have asked for submissions to be returned to the Department by 16 February. All the funding will go back to on-farm activities, not those outside the farm gate, as other countries would have argued for.

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