Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the manner in which he estimates the CAP Health Check will be worth €170 million to farmers here. [4942/09]

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the value of the CAP Health Check to farmers here. [4941/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 155 together.

The deal I secured for Irish farmers in the Health Check negotiations was a very good one in very challenging circumstances. In terms of additional payments to farmers, the deal itself is worth over €90 million over the coming years. This money arises as a result of the agreement secured by Member States to utilise unspent Single Farm Payment funds. Heretofore these funds could not be accessed because of the complex rules surrounding the Single Payment arrangements. In addition, the increase in milk quotas will deliver an estimated €100 million worth of additional milk production by the year 2014. This was an outstanding achievement by any standards considering the alignment of forces on the Council.