Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2440. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been allocated annually to farmers in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the annual payment received from the EU; the annual contribution by Ireland; the annual administration costs associated with operating the payments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18172/21]

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2443. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been allocated annually to Irish farmers from 2017 to 2020, in tabular form; the annual payment of same received from the European Union in addition to the annual contribution of his Department; if he will include the annual administration costs associated with operating the payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18250/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2440 and 2443 together.

Payments to farmers are comprised of direct payments under Pillar 1 of the CAP, and farmer-related Rural Development Programme payments under Pillar 2. The European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) finances direct payments and market supports. The European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) co-finances rural development measures under approved Rural Development Programmes (RDP).

The following table summarises CAP payments from 2017 to 2020:

2017

€000
2018

€000
2019

€000
2020

€000
Pillar I - EAGF* 1,207,879 1,208,908 1,252,852 1,187,000
Pillar II EAFRD** 538,835 635,712 641,404 604,792
Total 1,746,714 1,844,620 1,894,256 1,791,792

* EAGF payments do not include Market Intervention, APS & other Market Supports

** The figures represent payments to all beneficiaries, the majority of whom are farmers. They may vary from other published figures on Rural Development Programme expenditure as they exclude technical assistance and LEADER payments, which are not made to farmers.

The RDP payments are co-funded by the exchequer at an average rate of 47%.

EU co-funding - EAFRD *** 2017

€000
2018

€000
2019

€000
2020

€000
EU co-funded amount 282,452 321,083 311,834 291,655
Irish Exchequer co-funded 256,383 314,629 329,570 313,137
Total Value of EAFRD claims 538,835 635,712 641,404 604,792
Additional National Financing by Ireland 20,125 45,817 68,124 68,798

*** Excluding technical assistance and LEADER payments.

Administration costs.

2017

€000
2018

€000
2019

€000
2020

€000
Total EU co-funded and National spend on Farm sector support and controls – Programme B of Department Vote. 726,326 823,173 874,064 871,290
of which: Administration
Pay 50,035 52,103 53,389 55,144
Non Pay 17,253 18,600 19,094 21,097
Total Administration 67,288 70,703 72,483 76,241

Note on EAGF and EAFRD allocations and payments.

Ireland has an EU allocation of total 10.697bn for the programming period 2014-2020 (8.507bn for EAGF and 2.191bn for EAFRD).

EAGF

Of the €8.5billion Direct Payments allocation EU Regulation 1307/2013 sets out the annual Direct payment ceilings to apply for each of the financial years (circa €1.2billion) with 99% execution rate (see table). Additional to this, annual provisions are made for market measures and exceptional aid as per market demands.

The Direct payment ceilings set by the Commission are the maximum payment amounts allowable within the financial year. Where the ceiling has not been fully utilised, these amounts remain available to the Member States to pay applicants who subsequently become eligible for payment. Such payments are currently ongoing across all scheme years.

EAFRD

€2,190.5m has been allocated to Ireland from the European Agriculture Rural Development Fund for the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. The funding is for the full period of the programme and under the "N+3" rule expenditure up to 2023 is eligible to be claimed against the 2014-2020 allocation.

While the Rural Development Programme Financial Plan sets out an indicative allocation of approximately €313m for each of the 7 years 2014-2020, where expenditure in a year is less than the indicative allocation the amount available for subsequent years of the programme is increased accordingly. Thus, the extent of unspent EU funds is measured more accurately at the end of the programming period rather than on an annual basis

As of 31st December 2019, Ireland had expenditure incurred which attracted EAFRD funding of €1,650.1m which is an execution rate that is one of the highest in Europe.

In 2019, EAFRD funds claimed amounted to €338.6m vs an indicative allocation of €312.7m

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2441. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of the base payment for the upcoming pilot of the new agri-environmental scheme; and if participating farmers will receive the maximum base payment through this trial period. [18195/21]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2484. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will deliver the maximum base payment to farmers in the agri-environmental REPs scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18996/21]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2511. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to giving priority entry into environmental schemes to farmers who have land that is designated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19525/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2554. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of places that will be available for the new agri-environmental pilot scheme in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20281/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2555. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to the new agri-environmental pilot scheme for 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20282/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2556. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new agri-environmental pilot scheme will open for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2557. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the terms and conditions of the new agri-environmental pilot scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20284/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2558. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new agri-environmental pilot scheme will be open to all farmers who are not currently part of an environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20285/21]

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2559. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider setting the minimum base payment of the REAP pilot scheme to €10,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20328/21]

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2560. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on progress to formulate a new REPS scheme; if farm organisations will be included as stakeholders in the process to design the new REPS scheme; if this new scheme will have a minimum base payment of €10,000; if the scheme will be open to all farmers not currently in GLAS; the number of farmers that can participate in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20459/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2441, 2484, 2511 and 2554 to 2560, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. To advance this aim, the Results-Based Environmental Agri Pilot Project (REAP) is being launched this week.

The aim of this pilot project is to identify a suitable agri-environment results-based scoring system and to trial this system at a national level with a view to identifying up scaling potential for possible inclusion in the next national agri-environment scheme. Under the results-based model, farm holdings with the highest scoring receive the greatest payment. By linking payments to defined indicators the results-based model creates a financial incentive linked with outcomes for participating farmers. The model also makes it worthwhile for participants to gain an understanding of the conditions required for the delivery of optimum biodiversity and environmental benefits.

REAP will be provided for under the technical assistance measure of the rural development programme and is subject to EU Commission approval of the 10th amendment to Ireland's RDP. Full details of the project including terms and conditions and specifications are now available on the Department's section of the Government website.

REAP is an innovative, ambitious and farmer-friendly pilot that will deliver an important income boost to farmers while also underlining our commitment to biodiversity.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.