Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which, post budget, he expects the various categories of farmers to qualify for each farm support payment; his plans for the future in this regard; if he expects the projections outlined in Food Harvest 2020 to the affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56255/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Although constrained by tight budgetary disciplines which originally demanded a reduction of €114 million for next year, I was determined in finalising the Vote for my Department in 2013, to minimise the impact of the scale of the reductions so that the most important schemes and programmes were protected to the greatest possible extent. I am pleased to say I have managed to secure additional capital funding and thereby reduce the overall scale of savings to a lower amount of €89 million compared to 2012. The following is the situation in relation to the main schemes.

Disadvantaged Areas Schemes – Underlying my commitment to the protection of income for smaller farmers there is an increased allocation of €195m in support of Disadvantaged Area Schemes; while an adjustment will be required in 2013 I have decided that payments to the smaller and most disadvantaged farmers, including mountain sheep holdings will remain unchanged.

REPS and AEOS – Having announced a €20m AEOS 3 Scheme in September I have provided €61m in 2013 to fund the 3 AEOS Schemes. Under AEOS 3 priority will be given to farmers in designated areas. Payments in 2013 will be rescheduled but there will be no reduction to payments to existing AEOS and REPS participants.

Beef sector - Although the Suckler Cow Scheme 2008-2012 has come to an end, I have allocated an additional €10m in 2013 for a new support programme for Suckler beef farmers to participate in a new Beef Data Programme, which, when combined with residual payment of €10m under the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, will amount to €20m in payments to Suckler farmers in 2013. In addition, I have provided €5m to support the continuation of the Beef Technology Adaptation Programme.

Dairy – I have provided some €10m under TAMS for on-farm investments storage and facilities.

Sheep – I have extended the Grassland Sheep Scheme, which was due to expire at the end of this year, for a further year and, in addition, I have provided €3m to a new Sheep Technology Adoption Programme with a maximum payment of €1,000 per participant.

Pig Section – I have announced a number of amendments to the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme and the provision of additional funding of up to €3m. These adjustments to both the Scheme and provision were designed to provide further assistance to pig farmers engaged in capital works necessary to comply with new regulations.

I have secured an increased capital allocation in 2013 of some €25m which enables a meaningful capital programme to be undertaken, particularly in providing support programmes in line with the targets of Food Harvest 2020. In addition to this direct financial support, I have secured agreement for a range of taxation reliefs that would link in with the key measures being pursued in Harvest 2020 for the growth and development of the agriculture, food and marine sectors.

These measures reflect the Government’s commitment to the agri-food industry and the expansion planned in the Food Harvest 2020 Strategy. I am also providing strong financial support for some €19m, for research across animal and crop production sustainability and food processing, traceability, safety and quality, consistent with the Think Green Act Smart, Achieve Growth principles of Food Harvest 2020. This research will play a key role in driving innovation within the bio-economy and contribute strongly to the growth targets in Food Harvest 2020. This provision builds on my recent announcement of €32m of grant Aid for 55 research projects focussing on sustainable food production, processing and forestry.

The 2013 budget reflects a significant Exchequer commitment of support for the agri-food sector and is recognition of the contribution which the sector can make to economic recovery and future growth.