Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that will be provided for the poultry sector under the new rural development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7205/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The development of a new Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the period 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. As you are aware I have recently published a consultation document on the new RDP, which sets out a range of proposed measures for inclusion.

The main areas proposed for support in the new RDP are:

- a substantial new agri-environment/climate scheme (GLAS), which will build on the progress made under REPS and AEOS. This will provide for a maximum payment of €5,000 for up to 50,000 farmers, and a further payment of up to €2,000 for a limited number of farmers who take on particularly challenging actions,

- continued strong support for disadvantaged areas (now Areas of Natural Constraint), to the tune of about €195 million per year,

- incentives for on-farm capital investment,

- knowledge transfer and innovation measures, aimed at underpinning farm viability, sustainability and growth through the adoption of best practice and innovative solutions,

- a new beef data and genomics measure worth up to €52 million per year aimed at improving the genetic quality of the beef herd, and

- other supports aimed at collaborative farming, artisan producers, organic farming etc.

While the above measures are available to all farmers, it should also be noted that there is provision for support specifically for the poultry sector. The proposed new on farm capital investment measure refers to possible support for pig and poultry investments in energy, water meters and medicines, while the suite of knowledge transfer measures proposed includes support for knowledge transfer groups in the pig and poultry sectors.

The proposed measure outlines are now available on my Department's website and will form the basis for a public consultation. Written submissions are now being sought by the deadline of 19^th February 2014. This consultation process will be a key step in designing a draft RDP for submission to the EU Commission for their approval.