Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the budgetary impositions in respect of agriculture with particular reference to the need to incentivise, encourage and modernise the agri-sector in the face of international marketing and competition conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37589/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Despite the deterioration in the public finances, funding of €1.8 billion gross is provided for my Department in the 2009 Budget. When combined with EU funding and co-funding of about €1.4 billion next year, this represents very substantial funding for the support and development of the agri-food sector. Nevertheless, difficult choices had to be made in allocating the resources available to me in 2009. I made these decisions in the best interests of the sector following detailed analysis of my Department's programme of expenditure and careful consideration of the options available.

My priority in framing the 2009 Budget for the Department was to focus available resources on protecting the most productive elements of the agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries sectors and to ensure that they will continue to develop. I decided that the major developmental schemes which are intended to facilitate the strategic development of the sector will continue. I also provided for liabilities expected to mature for payment in 2009 under various schemes. My objective is to continue to develop the sector within the budgetary constraints to ensure that it is well positioned to achieving its full potential and to benefitting from future economic growth. I will monitor all aspects of my Department's expenditure in 2009 and, in the normal course, I will review spending priorities in the context of the preparation of the 2010 Estimates.