Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to protect sugar beet growers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5611/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU sugar reform package agreed in November provides for compensation to beet growers of up to 64% of the reduction in the minimum price for beet. This compensation, which will be paid as part of the single farm payment, will be worth approximately €123 million to Irish beet growers over the next seven years. I announced recently that, subject to adoption of the regulations on the reform, I intended to fix the reference period for the single payment compensation for beet growers as the three year average of the individual farmer's contracted tonnage of beet in the years 2001, 2002 and 2004. These years are considered to be the most advantageous for sugar beet growers.

Diversification funds of almost €44 million will also become available to growers in the event that sugar beet production completely ceases in Ireland. In that event also an aid package of up to €145 million becomes available for the economic, social and environmental costs of restructuring of the Irish sugar industry, including factory closure and renunciation of quota. A decision on beet growing in 2006 and future years is a matter for beet growers and Irish Sugar Ltd. having regard to the reformed EU sugar regime, which will apply from 1 July.

The EU legal texts giving effect to the reform agreement could not be considered and approved by the Council of Ministers until the opinion of the European Parliament had been received. That opinion was delivered on 19 January and it is now anticipated that the legal texts will be ready for approval by the Council of Ministers next week. Meanwhile, the EU Commission is working on preparation of detailed implementation rules which can only be finalised once the Council texts have been adopted.