Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can restructure or restore any or all of any farm support payments previously reduced due to financial constraints with particular reference to the need to encourage production, environmental protection and sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23569/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I continue to operate under strict budgetary constraints due to the ongoing situation in the public finances. The Vote for my Department was reduced from €1,647 billion in 2011 to €1.339 billion in 2012, including carry-over of €27 million in savings on capital expenditure from 2011 in accordance with public financial procedures. Under the expenditure ceilings in the Government's Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2102-2014, funding for the Department will be further reduced in 2013. As a result, I have had to manage a very challenging situation and will continue to have difficult decisions in relation to the funding of schemes and service delivery by the Department.

My objectives are to ensure that available 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, my aim is 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. The funding allocations to schemes and services has been made for 2012 and decision on the distribution of resources for 2013 will be taken in finalising the Estimate for the Department later in the year.