Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason he considered it necessary to cut the installation aid to young farmers so abruptly in view of the increase in modulation funds. [6418/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agrifood sector. In protecting expenditure in certain areas, expenditure in other areas had to be curtailed. In relation to the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme, I have made provision of over €9 million to meet current commitments but it has been necessary to close the Scheme to new applications. The use of the modulation funds is currently under consideration within my Department.