Written answers

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

9:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 79: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will increase the level of grant aid available to farmers under the SFP scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17336/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The level of funding available to each member state under the single payment scheme has already been agreed under European Council Regulation 1782/2003. The amount available to Ireland in 2005, including the dairy premium, is €1.260 billion and this will increase to €1.322 billion as and from 2006 onwards. The envelope of money granted to each member state under the EU regulations represents the average number of animals paid under the livestock premia schemes and the area paid under the arable aid scheme during the three year reference period 2000 to 2002 calculated at the 2002 rates of payment.

Increasing or index linking the level of aid available to each member state was not an element of the European Commission's proposals for the mid-term review of Agenda 2000. There was, however, a proposal to provide for a reduction of up to 13% in the single payment, known as digression, to meet future financing needs. I believe one of the major achievements in the negotiations was the removal of this proposal, which meant a saving of some €420 million for Ireland over the lifetime of the agreement. The compromise agreed was to allow the Council to review, from 2007 onwards, the financial situation annually if budget deficits arise.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.