Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the way unused CAP funds will be dispensed; when funds are expected to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4966/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of submissions received by his Department on how the CAP health check funds should be spent; the sector within the farming community which accounted for the largest number of submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4902/09]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for the use of unused funds from Ireland's single farm payment ceiling. [4943/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 98 and 122 together.

One of my primary objectives in the Health check negotiations was to get access to unspent funds within the EU's agriculture budget for use by Member States with a wide range of discretion. This was achieved in the final deal and, as a result, Ireland will receive additional funds amounting to approximately €7m in 2009 (from the national reserve) and €29m in subsequent years.

I am currently considering how these funds can best be used to develop Irish agriculture within the terms laid down in the EU regulations. As part of this process I asked for and received submissions from four farm organizations. The proposals made include a top-up to the SFP for sheep farmers, a hogget ewe premium, a sheep maintenance payment for all ewes, and a dairy income support scheme linked to milk quota volume.

Some of these proposals are linked to suggestions for the use of €120m additional modulation funds, also arising from the Health Check, on which a separate consultation process is underway, and to which different EU rules apply. The closing date for these submissions is 16 February, and therefore it is not yet possible to indicate the range of proposals in this case.

All submissions received will be examined carefully, and will be a useful input to the decisions on these matters, which I expect to announce in the near future.