Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of funding available in 2007 under the area aid compensation allowance scheme; the level of payments made under the scheme in 2005 and 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9191/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has allocated €257 million for the 2007 Area-Based Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory Allowance Scheme. This amount includes provision for an across-the-board payment increase of 8% over and above the 2006 basic grant rates. At present, approval is awaited from the EU Commission for the 2007 Scheme, which forms part of the Rural Development Programme Plan 2007 to 2013.

Under the 2006 Scheme my Department has to date paid €252.16 million to 101,244 farmers. This includes €18.46 million of Modulation Funds, which was used to pay a top-up of approximately 7.9% on the basic grant rates. Modulation is the process whereby each farmer's Single Payment entitlement is reduced by a set percentage — 3% in 2005, with up to 80% of the resulting amount being retained in Ireland for spending on Rural Development measures.

Under the 2005 Scheme my Department has to date paid €235.85 million to 101,996 farmers.