Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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953. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address issues regarding funding for farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35756/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 (RDP) represents a substantial investment, by both the EU and the National Exchequer, in the agrifood sector and in Irish farmers. The RDP is co-funded by the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to a sum of €2.19 billion over the programme lifespan. This EU funding is supplemented by Exchequer funding bringing the total allocation to €4 billion.

The latest review of the RDP confirmed that entire budget of some €4 billion is fully committed and is expected to be spent by the end of 2020, although there will be some carry-over into 2021. Under EU regulations governing the Rural Development Programme, funds for multi-annual commitments entered into by the end of 2020 may be claimed up to the end of 2023. The Review of Expenditure under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 completed in June 2018 has been published on my Department’s website and is available at the following link .

With regard to funding for the Areas facing Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, the financial allocation for 2018 is €227 million, which includes €25 million in additional funding on foot of the Programme for Partnership Government commitment to increase ANC funding. Based on current projections, the projected total spend is expected to be almost €1.5 billion for ANC and the transitional schemes LFA/DAS over the duration of the RDP. The projected spend for GLAS and the transitional agri-environment measures is €1.4 billion over the duration of the RDP. As the RDP funding is fully committed and expected to be spent.

The €4 billion investment under the Rural Development Programme represents a substantial vote of confidence in Irish farming and in rural Ireland. My Department will continue to review the implementation of the Rural Development Programme to ensure that the RDP funding is fully spent and thereby providing a vital support to our farming community and rural Ireland. My Department will also ensure that all EU funding is fully drawn down and that all targets set down under the Rural Development Programme are met.

In relation to low cost loans, I announced in Budget 2018 that my Department is considering the development of potential Brexit response loan schemes for farmers, fishermen and for longer-term capital financing for food businesses. These schemes are developed and delivered in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and take time to develop and operationalise. Consideration and discussions are ongoing in this regard and I will announce further details on this as they become available.