Written answers

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Scheme Data

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide in tabular form a breakdown between total expenditure incurred in 2015, and the annual amount of funds originally allocated to the beef data and genomics programme, rural environment protection scheme, agri-environment option scheme, green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, locally led environmental schemes, organic farming schemes, land mobility, targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, horticulture industry, the organic sector and areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12118/16]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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A total of 29,865 applicants were accepted into the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, of which 4,615 applicants have now withdrawn. Of those herds that had withdrawn 125 applicants subsequently requested re-entry and were duly accepted. A further 132 herds have been excluded due to the absence of eligible animals. Approximately 1,200 herds have not returned any genomic samples. My Department recently issued a letter to all of these applicants and is finalising the position regarding each applicant as replies are received.

A further 3,000 herds have not submitted sufficient samples and/or data to be eligible for payment at this point. My Department will shortly make contact with these herdowners to remind them to submit all outstanding samples and/or data to facilitate payment.The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table:

SubheadTitle of Scheme/ProgrammeOriginal Budget

for 2015

€000
Post Supplementary Budget for 2015

€000
Expenditure

for 2015

€000
A.12Beef Data and Genomics Programme 52,00035,00034,691
C.3.1Rural Environment Protection Scheme52,00052,00030,459
C.3.1Mini Catchment1,5501,5501,550
C.3.2Agri - Environment Option Scheme71,00071,00079,801
C.3.3Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme20,00020,00011,453
C.3.5Organic Farming Schemes6,0006,0007,969
C.3 Total (ex Locally Led)150,550150,550131,232
C.3.4Locally Led Environmental Schemes00*1,044
C.4Land Mobility-Early Retirement Scheme8,1447,3947,143
C.5.1Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme34,00030,50024,830
C.5.2Horticulture Industry4,2004,2003,961
C.5.3Development of Organic Sector2,0452,0451,426
C.5 Total40,24536,74530,217
D.4Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme 195,000207,000205,906

*The payments made in 2015 for the Locally Led Environmental Scheme (Burren Life) were in relation to a fully funded EU Scheme so no voted allocation is shown.

In relation to TAMS and GLAS, expenditure was lower than the provision in 2015. These are demand-led schemes for which annual expenditures are difficult to estimate in advance. It is anticipated that the funding provided for these schemes will be fully utilised over the period of the rural development programme.

As the Supplementary Estimate changed the definitive allocation for a number of the schemes referred to by the deputy, I have included an additional column showing the definitive allocation as well as the original allocation and expenditure.

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