Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland's rural development programme for 2014 to 2020 is co-funded by the EU's European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, or EAFRD, and the national Exchequer. The total financial allocation for the period is approximately €4 billion, of which EU support amounts to €2.19 billion with the Exchequer funding the remainder. This significant financial commitment is a key component in our overall strategy to enhance the competitiveness of the agrifood sector, achieve sustainable management of our natural resources and ensure more balanced development in our rural areas. The allocation of Exchequer funding is part of and subject to the annual budgetary process. As part of that process, some €600 million has been allocated to the rural development programme for 2017. I emphasise that within the structures of the annual budgetary and Estimates process, we are fully committed to the allocation of sufficient Exchequer funding to ensure the full draw-down of the EU co-funded amount over the lifetime of the programme.

In terms of 2017 funding priorities, the funding allocation of €600 million provides continued support for the following: our flagship environmental scheme, GLAS, which now numbers over 50,000 farmers, and the associated GLAS traditional farm buildings measure; the Burren programme, a locally-led initiative focused specifically on the conservation of the unique farming landscape that is the Burren and a third tranche of which will open in 2017 to bring the number of farmers taking part to approximately 400; areas of natural constraint, or as the Deputy and I know them better, disadvantaged areas, with some  90,000 farmers receiving support because of the constraints to farming which they face; the highly innovative beef data genomics programme with 24,000 active farmers; the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, which funds fully completed on-farm capital investments; knowledge transfer groups which cover some 20,000 participants; targeted training for agricultural advisors and farmers who are engaged in the implementation of the rural development plan; the organic farming scheme, which has over 1,800 beneficiaries; legacy schemes from the previous rural development programme, including AEOS and the early retirement from farming scheme; the collaborative farming measure which contributes to the legal, advisory and financial services costs incurred by farmers in drawing up partnership agreements; technical assistance in respect of, among other things, the running of the national rural network, which promotes and monitors the rural development plan; and support for an evaluation of the GLAS scheme.

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As well as continuing to support the schemes that have already been rolled out, two new measures will be introduced and funded in 2017. Tomorrow is the closing date for applications to the new sheep welfare scheme which provides support of €10 per ewe to farmers who undertake actions aimed at improving flock welfare. This scheme has been widely welcomed and fulfils a promise made in A Programme for a Partnership Government. Projects under the European Innovation Partnership, EIP, measure will also commence in 2017. This initiative brings together farmers, researchers, advisors and scientists to look at new and traditional practices, develop ideas and research and co-operate in their own local areas. Closing dates for tenders and proposals, which included the hen harrier and freshwater pearl mussel projects, have now passed but I am pleased to say that a very significant response has been received.

In conclusion, I reiterate that I am fully committed to funding the rural development programme and to ensuring that moneys allocated are spent. In this regard, it is worth noting that the Commission has advised that Ireland well exceeds the EU average in terms of execution of the RDP based on EAFRD spending to 15 October 2016.

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