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

I appreciate the Deputy's points. No decisions have been made with regard to how the additional €25 million will be spent in 2018. The funding is additional to current payments. As it said, there will be an appeals system and engagement with stakeholders. That will come within the confines set out by the European Commission in terms of the biophysical criteria. We are several weeks away from having an outline of the outcome of such criteria, which are clearly laid down in EU directives. I outlined them at the start of my response. There will be engagement with stakeholders. It is my ambition and that of my Department, officials and the Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, to ensure that what we have we hold this regard.

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