Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans, under additional funding for islands, to help farmers with privately owned Islands with the cost of transporting stock and equipment from the mainland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26724/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In recognition of the additional obstacles faced by those farming on off-shore islands, including transport costs, I have decided that an additional, top-up, payment should be made available under the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (heretofore known as the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme). My intention is to include this proposal in the draft Rural Development Programme 2014/2020, which is currently being prepared for submission to Brussels. Subject to EU approval and subject to the farmers in question satisfying the Scheme’s Terms & Conditions, this additional payment will be made to qualifying farmers when the general Scheme payments issue annually.