Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is successful in changing its co-funding arrangements for EU schemes the effect this will have on the early retirement scheme. [8317/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 581: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is successful in changing its co-funding arrangements for EU schemes the effect this will have on the farm improvement scheme. [8318/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is successful in changing its co-funding arrangements for EU schemes the effect this will have on the installation aid programme. [8319/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 to 582, inclusive, together.

The European Commission has introduced an enabling provision in the rural development legislation allowing certain Member States, experiencing budgetary constraints, to draw down existing allocated EAFRD funds up to a maximum rate of 85% under their Rural Development Programmes during 2012 and 2013 if they continue to receive financial assistance under the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism.

My Department has sought an amendment of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 (RDP) in order to avail of the higher rate of draw down. This amendment is intended to ensure full draw down of available EU funding and is in line with current budgetary allocations and projected demand under the Programme schemes. With regard to existing commitments for schemes, such as the farm improvement scheme, early retirement scheme and the young farmers' installation aid scheme, provision has been made for outstanding commitments under these schemes and the proposed draw down rate will not impact on these existing commitments.