Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes in the disadvantaged area scheme for 2013 for applicants in designated mountain areas; the amount to be saved by these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57718/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I was extremely pleased that, even within tight budgetary discipline, I was able to increase the funding for Disadvantaged Areas Scheme by €5 million in 2013, to bring the total funds available up to €195 million. However, in view of the existing level of expenditure under this Scheme in 2012, it is still necessary to make adjustments, in order to keep within the new allocation. I did, however, ensure that farmers, particularly sheep farmers farming mountain type grazing, will not have their aid, which is important to the viability of their farming enterprises, reduced.

In order the carry out the adjustment, I decided to reduce the area maximum area payable from 34 to 30 hectares in respect of farmers situated in More Severely and Less Severely Disadvantaged Areas. By achieving this adjustment in this manner, together with a number of technical changes, over 72% of all applicants will not have their basic aid changed. The technical adjustments will be finalised when details of the final outturn of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are clearer in the New Year.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the press release issued by him (details supplied) did not outline the cut to non-sheep farmers in disadvantaged mountain areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57719/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I was extremely pleased that, even within tight budgetary discipline, I was able to increase the funding for Disadvantaged Areas Scheme by €5 million in 2013, to bring the total funds available up to €195 million. However, in view of the existing level of expenditure under this Scheme in 2012, it is still necessary to make adjustments, in order to keep within the new allocation. I did, however, ensure that farmers, particularly sheep farmers farming mountain type grazing, will not have their aid, which is important to the viability of their farming enterprises, reduced.

In order to carry out the adjustment, I outlined in my Press release of the 6th December that I had decided to reduce the area maximum area payable from 34 to 30 hectares in respect of farmers situated in More Severely and Less Severely Disadvantaged Areas. By achieving this adjustment in this manner, together with a number of technical changes, over 72% of all applicants will not have their basic aid changed. The technical adjustments, referred to in the press release, will be finalised when details of the final outturn of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are clearer in the New Year.