Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the future of cereal growing here; his plans to develop and expand in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20702/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly of the utmost importance. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, it is a key source of feedingstuffs for the livestock sector. Annual cereals production in Ireland has fluctuated around 2 million tonnes in recent years. It is desirable to try to sustain this level of production in order to avoid over-dependence on imported cereals. Last year, despite the adverse weather conditions in Ireland at harvest time, yields generally held up very well resulting in the second highest cereals production on record, at approximately 2.4 million tonnes. For 2009, the total area planted to cereals in the EU is expected to be down slightly by about 2% while in Ireland the early indications were of a decrease in sowing of winter cereals, influenced by the lower cereals prices and the late and difficult harvest.

EU policy regarding the cereals market is determined within the framework of the CAP. Irish cereal farmers, following the decoupling of the direct payments from production, are now in a position to respond to market signals. With the cushion of the single payment, they can focus on supplying market requirements, minimising production costs and maximising their incomes. Under the CAP Health Check agreement of December 2008, compulsory set-aside of tillage land was abolished, allowing growers to maximise their production potential.

The State supports the development of the cereals sector in a number of ways. My Department operates a range of services aimed at improving the efficiency, quality and viability of cereal production. These services include seed certification, seed testing, recommended lists of varieties etc. In addition, Teagasc provides comprehensive research, training and advisory services for cereal producers. The value of all these support services is reflected in the fact that Irish cereal producers have consistently achieved some of the highest yields in the world. I believe the outlook for cereal growing in Ireland is quite positive and that Irish cereal producers are well positioned to meet the competitive challenges ahead.