Results 16,841-16,860 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Common Agricultural Policy. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: On Deputy Creed's earlier point on the market mechanism measures, the Commission has strongly pushed for their removal. We have argued trenchantly that the aids to private storage and intervention measures are absolutely essential to ensure that this mechanism will kick in should there be a surge in supply from other continents or a dramatic reduction in demand. In our trilateral...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. While difficult decisions had to be taken in light of the situation of the public finances, account also had to be taken of the very high level of investment by the Government in recent years, when...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: What I stated to the House — I may have stated it twice — is that in 2007 the rate of payment was increased by 8%, and that rate of payment was continued in 2008. Obviously, that payment is continuing for all eligible applicants in next year's scheme. That 8% increase in payment is being continued. As the Deputy is aware, there is now a cut-off point of 34 hectares for payments, which...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My information indicates that the majority of farmers in County Kerry do not come into the category to which Deputy Sheahan refers.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: No, it is less——

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Less than 50% of farmers in County Kerry are affected, according to my——

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Nationally, over 60% of farmers are not affected by this scheme because their acreage is under the cut-off point of 34 hectares. The reduction in the maximum area payable from 45 hectares to 35 hectares will result in the payments of 35,162 farmers being reduced, but in excess of 102,000 farmers are in receipt of disadvantaged area payments.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My understanding is that the total number of farmers in disadvantaged areas in County Kerry is 7,666, over 3,000 of whom will be affected by this particular decision. I can double check those figures for Deputy Sheahan, but I am confident that they are accurate.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: As I have already said, and this will be the fourth time, that ——

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am just pointing out that over the past number of years there have been increases in different programmes. When resources were available, decisions were made to increase the level of funding towards particular programmes. Deputies may wish to dismiss an 8% increase as insignificant but I would not regard it as so for those in receipt of such payments.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Does Deputy Sherlock want to take that as the same question?

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: That is fine. Additional information not given on the floor of the House. My approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agrifood sector. The 2009 Estimates provide over €1.8 billion for my Department, and, when combined with EU funding of €1.4 billion, total...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: As I outlined in previous responses, this particular payment is one of a number that are made by the Department. Some agricultural programmes are funded by the Exchequer, while others are funded by the European Union. In 2009, some €44 million will be provided for the suckler cow welfare scheme, €220 million for the disadvantaged areas scheme, €355 million for the rural environment...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Sherlock queried, understandably, the level of financial commitment to the agricultural industry. All of those schemes are important. This year alone €377 million was devoted to the farm waste management scheme. These are all important measures for farmers. We cannot ignore the substantial funding both from the Exchequer and from the European Union this year, which will continue...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Unfortunately we had to make a decision to reduce——

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: There are 102,000 farmers in the disadvantaged area scheme.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: This measure or reduction in the payment applies to farms greater than 34 hectares. The average size of a family farm in Ireland is 31 hectares. The reduction in expenditure kicks in at——

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am fully aware of that. The decision was made and will result in a loss to those individuals.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: More than 60,000 will not be affected by this measure.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Every sector wishes to contribute at a time when there are particular difficulties, but I have not heard any suggestion of an alternative from anyone here or anywhere else.