Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)

I commend the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for his efforts in endeavouring to secure for Ireland the best possible deal in the ongoing CAP negotiations and in particular for the manner in which he challenged the EU bid to use 2014 as a reference year for future payments. I believe this has now been rectified and I ask the Minister to clarify whether 2011 will be the reference year for future single farm payments. This will enable active farmers to rent the land and to develop their production rates. It is heartening to see that the majority of the money will go directly to the farmer thus ensuring that 128,000 land holdings in the country will remain viable. Approximately 300,000 people are employed directly and indirectly in agriculture and this number will be maintained and expanded over the next number of years.

I am pleased a system of equality of payments is being introduced so farmers in the poorer land which is prevalent on the western seaboard will be on a par with their counterparts in the eastern part of the country. Additional moneys and incentives will be provided for farmers in areas with high rainfall. I ask the Minister to clarify the criteria for these incentives. Those of us who live in County Kerry are very aware of the adverse effects. I refer to an interview on Radio Kerry a few years ago when the presenter asked a farmer what type of farming he did. The farmer replied he was milking ten cows on 50 acres; ten acres for milking the cows and 40 acres of water. The presenter was confused and he asked him to elaborate and the farmer said he had ten acres arable and 40 acres horrible. This is the case for several people engaged in farming in the west and south west. I am pleased to note the Minister will maintain his stance on equalisation in order to put these people on a solid footing. They have been custodians of the land and of the farms all down the years and in very tough times. It is crucial that we keep them on the family farm.

It is appropriate that young farmers are being incentivised to take up farming as only 7% of farmers are in the younger age bracket, under 35 years, of the 128,000 engaged in farming, meaning a total of 14,000. I am pleased to note that the agricultural colleges are full and there is a demand for places. This demonstrates that young farmers foresee a future for themselves on the land. I am confident they will maximise our full potential and growth levels so we will be a prime producer of agricultural products and world leaders in the field.

I ask the Minister to clarify what will be the situation regarding land that is not farmed and has not been entered into the area aid scheme for this year or before 2011. What will happen this land and will the entry of this land dilute the national allocations or any late applications for this year?

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