Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to reintroduce the young farmers installation aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43087/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008 and I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to the Scheme at this time. I have, however, made provision of €9.75 million in 2009 to meet the existing commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There are 5,594 County Galway farmers in the Suckler Welfare Scheme. These farmers had 75,887 animals eligible for payment in 2008. The number of animals payable for 2009 will not be known until all the measures have been completed and all the information has been returned by the farmers and processed by my Department. Under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, 3,485 farmers in Co.Galway have been affected by the reduction in the maximum payable area to 34 hectares, resulting in a cumulative reduction of €2.8 million in their payments. However, 8,750 farmers have not been affected by this reduction in the maximum payable area.

Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to protect expenditure for major developmental measures in the agrifood sector. To achieve this objective, savings had to be found in other areas and I decided, reluctantly, to reduce expenditure under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for 2009 by reducing the maximum area limit to 34 hectares. However, notwithstanding the reduction in funding, the total amount available under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in 2009 is €220 million. This represents a substantial injection of funds paid to farmers situated in the areas and the Scheme continues to be one of the best-funded Disadvantaged Areas Schemes in the European Union.