Written answers

Thursday, 31 March 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Common Agricultural Policy

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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469. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which CAP continues to be of major assistance to Irish agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17300/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The aim of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is to support all farmers across the community to continue to produce the highest quality food in the most sustainable manner.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Department submitted Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023-2027 to the European Commission at the end of December 2021. The Plan was developed following a detailed SWOT analysis and needs assessment process.

The CSP will continue to support the development of the agriculture sector, and improve its resilience, by helping it to meet the twin challenges of delivering viable farm incomes for farmers and producing food in an environmentally sustainable manner. This strong focus on the environment, and on sustainable production, is consistent with EU and National obligations on climate change, biodiversity and water quality.

I consider that Ireland's draft Plan strikes an appropriate balance between the needs and demands of all stakeholders - of which there are many - and the need to secure approval from the European Commission, including in relation to the level of environmental and climate ambition to be attained.

I also recognise the crucial role that the CAP plays in underpinning our world class production systems. The indicative financial allocation for the Plan over its five years is more than €9.8 billion, with a significant increase in the National co-funding rate from approximately 47% under the previous Rural Development Programme to almost 60% in the period from 2023 to 2027. Proposed rates of payment across the various measures are set out in the draft CSP, and attached in Table 1.

The CAP also provides for supports for food promotion, marketing and education programmes, as well as for measures to address market volatility. These latter measures - for example in the form of private storage aid for the pigmeat sector and wider exceptional aid - are currently being activated to address the impacts arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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