Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 490: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total area growing the various bio-fuel crops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33047/06]

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

My Department is currently processing 2006 Energy Crops applications in respect of 2,458.51 hectares and 2,076.7 hectares in respect of the 2006 Non-Food Set-aside Scheme. Article 92 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 provides for a review of the Energy Crops Schemes by the EU Commission. This report was recently presented by the Commission to the Council, ahead of the 31 December 2006 deadline, and was the subject of discussion at the recent meeting of the EU Working Party on Horizontal Agricultural Questions. The views of that Working Party are now being referred to the Management Committee on Direct Payments, which is charged with identifying ways of simplifying and improving the regime. Significant progress in this regard is anticipated by year-end.