Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the degree to which she expects the rural development programme to increase production, encourage speciality or niche development with particular reference to self-sufficiency in the food sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40575/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Development programme will assist market orientation and sustainability in its support for competitiveness and the enhancement of the environment. The on-farm investment measure, in particular, will provide support for general farm improvement and the horticulture and organic sectors. Direct support for organic farming is also proposed under the environmental objective. Ireland is already more than self-sufficient in the main food groups and the Rural Development programme is based on the new CAP framework where, post decoupling of income support, the focus will be on the marketplace.