Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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95. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the cost neutral proposals presented to him by the organic farmers representative body to front-load payments towards the first ten hectares, thereby securing the future viability of small-scale organic farming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48654/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has given careful consideration to the proposal made by the above-named body to increase the payment rate for the first ten hectares under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). I am advised that the proposals are not cost neutral. My Department already proposes increased rates of payment under the new OFS, including a significantly increased maintenance rate which will be payable to small farmers. My Department also proposes to extend these new higher rates to existing OFS participants.

In light of the number of existing participants and potential new entrants which the Department hopes to attract, it is not possible to accommodate the further increases proposed by the above-named body within the available budget.