Dan Neville
Question:143 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will address rising farming costs to maintain real income, by having all direct payments index-linked. [18804/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under European Union regulations there are no provisions to enable the indexation of direct income payments to farmers.
Dan Neville
Question:144 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will increase REP scheme payments to farmers to ?320 per hectare on the next 20 hectares. [18805/02]
As a condition of European Union approval, REPS payment rates must be fully justified in accordance with strict regulatory criteria. The EU regulations governing REPS provide that support is to be calculated on the basis of income forgone and additional costs resulting from the commitment given together with the need to provide an incentive. Good farming practice is the reference level for calculating income forgone and additional costs resulting from the commitments given, and the incentive element of the payment cannot exceed 20% of the costings.
I intend in the near future to put in motion a consultative process about REPS involving a wide range of stakeholders, leading into the mid-term review of the rural development plan in 2003. Full consultation and detailed preparation are necessary to ensure that any proposals that may be put to the EU Commission in 2003 are robust and fully justifiable within the terms of the relevant EU regulations. This process will cover all aspects of the scheme including payment rates.
Dan Neville
Question:145 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will increase by 80%, the grant rate for on-farm investment schemes. [18806/02]
The levels of grant aid paid under the on-farm investment schemes are kept under review. However, it should be noted that by virtue of the Council regulation which governs the schemes which are co-funded by the European Union, a grant aid rate of 80% is not permitted.
Dan Neville
Question:146 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will establish a fodder aid scheme to offset the increased costs facing farmers due to the bad weather during the summer of 2002. [18808/02]
I have taken a series of weather related initiatives in support of farmers. First, I obtained a derogation from the EU Commission to allow set-aside land to be used for animal feed purposes on farms where 33% or more of the land has been flooded. Second, I arranged for Teagasc to provide an intensive advisory service, both general and one to one, in co-operation with my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. Third, I arranged that the farm assist scheme take account of the situation faced by farmers. Fourth, I obtained EU Commission approval to bring forward the payment of 50% of arable aid due to cereal farmers to 16 October. Sixth, I obtained an increase in the rate of advance payments made on cattle premia from 60% to 80% with effect from 16 October.
I have also put great emphasis on improving market supports. Over the summer period I succeeded in strengthening the market supports system within the milk sector aimed at addressing the market weakness which prevailed at the time. Furthermore, I recently announced a substantial improvement in the beef export refund rate for Egypt, aimed at the specific requirements for that market. In these circumstances I have no plans to introduce an aid package.
Seymour Crawford
Question:147 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive a headage payment and area based payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18855/02]
The 2002 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 14.71 hectares. The person named will be paid his full entitlement under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme shortly.