Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29764/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The funding available to the Department in the 2012 Budget will be determined by the Government in the context of the prevailing economic and budgetary situation while having regard to the outcome of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review which is under way and the discussions on the 2012 Estimates process.

The National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 requires the Department to reduce total expenditure from €1.647 billion in 2011 to €1.286 billion in 2012. The reduced level of funding provided for will inevitably mean substantial cuts in expenditure in 2012 and subsequent years, and will impact on the schemes and services delivered by the Department.

Arising from the budgetary constraints as set out in the National Recovery Plan and the on-going difficulties in the national finances, the Government requested all Departments to undertake a Comprehensive Expenditure Review for the purposes of ensuring the best use of resources and also that Government's public service reform objectives of achieving new goals with lower levels of resources will be realised.

My Department has carried out a comprehensive review of all areas of activities and expenditure and has submitted a report to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform which provides for cost reductions and a comprehensive set of options to meet the funding constraints. The review will be considered as part of the Government's overall pre-budget deliberations and the 2012 Estimates process.

I am acutely aware of the financial pressures on many farm families and of the importance of grant and scheme payments to their incomes and cash-flow. I have given the highest priority to the processing and payment of all scheme payments and to the elimination of all unnecessary delays. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Agri-environment Options Scheme commenced in recent weeks and will continue as queries are resolved. I can also confirm that very substantial payments will issue between now and year end under the Single Payment Scheme and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. Grants payments in respect of on-farm investments are dependent on the completion of the project concerned and submission of a valid, documented claim. I am also committed to ensuring that all such claims are processed and paid without delay.

Funding for these schemes in 2012 will be decided in Budget 2012 against the background I have outlined. My objectives are to ensure that funding is directed to priority schemes and services in accordance with Government policy and that the most cost-effective and efficient service is delivered by my Department. In this context, I will be aiming to maintain support for the most vulnerable farm families while attempting to focus the remaining available resources in favour of investment opportunities in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy and the Government's Programme for Recovery.