Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views regarding farm support schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37023/11]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding farm supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37036/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 443 together.

The funding available to my Department for schemes and services in 2012 will be determined by the Government in the context of the prevailing economic and budgetary situation while having regard to the Comprehensive Expenditure Review and 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.

However, I am acutely aware of the importance of grant and scheme payments to the incomes and cash-flow of farm families. I have given the highest priority to the processing and payment of all scheme payments and to the elimination of all unnecessary delays. I can confirm that further substantial payments will issue between now and year end under the Single Payment Scheme and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme and AEOS.

Insofar as the 2012 Estimate is concerned, my priorities are to ensure that my Department provides a cost-effective and efficient service while maintaining support for the productive farmers and that available resources are directed towards the investment opportunities which have been identified in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy and the Government's Programme for Recovery.