Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the level of funding afforded to the agriculture sector to maximise the export potential from the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11270/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Despite the on-going serious difficulties in the public finances, a total funding of €1,312m is being provided in the Department's Vote in 2012, €1,144m in current and €168m for capital expenditure. On the capital side, the 2012 capital allocation will be boosted by a further €27m by way of carry-over of savings from 2011 to provide total capital funding next year of €195m. The funding announced in the 2012 Estimates does not include the €1.3b in payments under EU funded schemes which are administered by the Department.

This funding commitment is a strong statement of the Government's support for the agri-food sector and recognition of the contribution which the sector can make to economic recovery and future growth in the Irish economy. The schemes and programmes which underpin this funding aim to protect farm incomes by targeting existing resources at active farmers, support productivity and the up skilling of farmers and the food sector with a view to developing and ensuring maximum return for the Irish agri-food sector in line with Food Harvest 2020. I believe that the agri-food sector will continue to be one of the strongest performing sectors of the economy this year creating new jobs and building further on the outstanding export performance in 2011.

Question No. 605 withdrawn.