Written answers
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
Department of Agriculture and Food
Organic Farming
10:00 am
Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will increase the rate of payment made to organic farmers; the last time this payment was increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3548/07]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The current situation is that organic farmers in REPS with holdings of 3 hectares or more qualify for a supplementary organic payment of €181 per hectare on the first 55 hectares, and €30 per hectare over 55 hectares during the in-conversion period. The equivalent rates when full organic status is attained are €91 and €15 per hectare respectively. Organic farmers also qualify for basic REPS payments. Significant increases in the basic REPS payments were introduced in 2004; €200 per hectare for the first 20 hectares, €175 per hectare between 20 and 40 hectares, €75 per hectare between 40 and 55 hectares and €10 per hectare over 55 hectares.
Organic farmers in REPS with holdings of less than 3 hectares are eligible for payments of €242 per hectare during conversion and €121 with full organic status, on top of the basic REPS payment.
Subject to the approval of the European Commission, I am proposing to increase the payments to organic farmers under Ireland's new Rural Development Programme for the period 2007 to 2013. I am also proposing that the system of organic payments should be operated separately from REPS, though organic farmers will be able to join REPS as well.
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