Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total allocation to Ireland under the rural development programme 2007 to 2013 broken down measure by measure; the expenditure to date; his views on whether the full allocation will be spent under each measure; the implications for the programme and the common agricultural policy in Ireland if any measure fails to spend its allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48260/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since the launch of the Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 [RDP] expenditure under the programme to 15 October 2012 amounts to €3.5bn. This represents close on 73% of the total value of the Programme which is €4.8bn. Axes 1 and 2 of the Rural Development Programme are administered by my Department while Axes 3 and 4 are delivered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. A broadband measure comes under the remit of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Details of the allocation and expenditure per measure under the RDP up to 15 October 2012 are set out in the table below. This table does not include funds already committed but not as yet claimed.

The programme, like all national spending, is subject to ongoing budgetary constraints but is configured to maximise all available EU funding. Ireland’s draw down rate under the Programme has been among the highest of EU Member States over the lifetime of the current Programme. As is the case with the Programmes of other Member States, expenditure has not been entirely consistent across the measures and this has been due both to the more long term nature of some of the measures and to the prevailing economic situation. Spending under a number of measures may continue until the end of 2015 and this will provide considerable scope to allow all measures to spend up to their full allocation.

Full draw down of available EU funds is a major priority. Any review of expenditure under the programme must take account of the Axis balance which requires spending over the Axes in the proportions of 10:80:10 under the RDP. Adjustments have already been made to the RDP Financial Plan and will continue to be made to the end of the Programme in order to achieve the fullest possible draw down of available funds.

Axis 2 – Environment and Land Management

Axis 3

Axis 4

Axis 5 – Technical Assistance