Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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617. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide further assistance in pillar 2 of CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62456/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023-2027 will underpin the sustainable development of Ireland’s farming and food sector by supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness, by strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural areas and by contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU levels.

Support for Pillar II measures will be co-funded by the European Union via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and by the National Exchequer. Funding will be phased over the 2023-2027 period in line with the requirements of intervention design and the annual national budgetary process.

A total of €2.3 billion in national exchequer funding will be made available under Pillar II for the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan. When combined with Ireland’s €1.56 billion in Pillar II funding arising from last year’s agreement on the EU budget, this will bring the allocation for Rural Development measures to a total of €3.86 billion over the five year period.

In addition, residual spending under Pillar II of approximately €350m will occur under the existing Rural Development Programme in the period 2023-2025 including LEADER. The exact amount will depend on the expenditure of schemes in 2021 and 2022. The breakdown between national and the co-funded element will depend on the residual spending profiles as there are different EU funding rates including the European Recovery Instrument Funding which is set at 100% and will only become clearer as the programme progresses.