Written answers

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Conditions

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements that will be put in place in relation to agri-environmental schemes in 2014 in view of the delay in introducing the revised Common Agriculture Policy 2014-2020; if there will be an extension of existing agri environmental scheme in 2014 or a new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39532/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to say that the revised CAP 2014 - 2020 gives priority to agri-environment schemes and requires that the new Rural Development Plan must include an agri-environment scheme. I fully support this position. These schemes recognise the vital role that farmers play in delivering public goods through the adoption of environmentally friendly farming practices.

In relation to Pillar 2, preparatory work for the next Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 - 2020 is well underway. Under the current draft Rural Development Regulation, my Department must undertake an ex ante evaluation, a public consultation, a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) a needs assessment, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and an appropriate assessment (AA) in developing our Rural Development Programme. An independent evaluator has been contracted to prepare the ex-ante evaluation report, SEA and AA and to advise on the SWOT analysis.

An initial consultation process was launched in 2012, and written submissions were received from over 80 stakeholders. These submissions have been analysed by my Department and have fed into the development of the SWOT and needs analyses. A second consultation was held in July, where stakeholders attended a full day workshop on the draft SWOT and needs analyses. Based on the outcome of these processes, the drafting of a new programme is being advanced in my Department, and it is intended that further stakeholder consultation will form part of this.

Participants in AEOS whose contracts overlap with these new schemes will be given the opportunity to adjust their commitments for the remainder of the period of the contract to the legal framework of the next programming period. If such an adjustment is not acceptable to the participant he/she may withdraw from the scheme without any requirement for reimbursement of aid already received.

There are currently 49,000 farmers active in both REPS and AEOS and projected payments of more than €200 million will be made under these schemes this year.

I am aware that some 12,000 farmers will be exiting REPS this year and that many of them would like the opportunity to join a new agri-environment scheme at the earliest opportunity. Likewise there are enquiries about extending the current AEOS scheme. Any such extension or new scheme would have to be considered in the context of the wider budgetary situation. In view of the challenges we continue to face in terms of the public finances, and the requirement to balance competing needs both within the agricultural sector and in the economy as a whole, the government will give these matters careful consideration in the context of the upcoming Estimates process.

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