Toddy O'Sullivan
Question:16 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if any grants have been paid by his Department under Council Regulation EC No. 1760/87; if so, the number of recipients; and the amount of grants paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grant Payments.
Regulation 1760/87 provided for the introduction of a number of new schemes, namely, the set aside of agricultural land, the conversion of production, the extensification of production and an environmentally sensitive areas scheme.
A total of £141,000 has been paid under the set aside scheme to 64 recipients in Ireland since its introduction in October 1988. The first Irish pilot scheme for extensification of production has been submitted to the Commission for approval and the optional scheme for payment of premiums in environmentally sensitive areas will be introduced this year following the special provision announced in the recent budget. The scheme for conversion of production cannot be introduced until detailed rules are adopted by the EC Council of Ministers.
Is the Minister telling the House that we are paying large sums of money to farmers to remain idle and not to use the land?
No. The Deputy will know that it was not at the request of the Irish Minister for Agriculture and Food that any extension or set aside scheme was introduced. However, when such a scheme is introduced and made law by the Council we must introduce proposals to implement it. The purposes are to promote environmentally sensitive areas and to discourage surplus products by giving farmers an incentive to use the land for other purposes.
Has there been an increase in applications from the point of view of cereal growing this year as opposed to last year? How far advanced is the identification of environmentally sensitive areas? When will people be able to submit areas to Brussels for formal attention? Will people be notified individually that this is happening because a great number of farmers are very worried at present, especially in Connemara, that this could happen under their noses before they were fully informed? They are afraid that they might be prohibited from carrying on certain types of farming practices which they had been used to. In other words, what is the formula to ensure that people will know exactly what is happening?
We established an interdepartmental committee to look at this matter and to recommend areas for designation with a view to the introduction of an national scheme in relation to environmentally sensitive areas. I will be very anxious to have full consultation with the House, spokesmen for various parties and farmer organisations in relation to any views or reservations they may have. It is a European scheme and I hope we can get the balance right.
It must be a sensitive issue.
Did the Minister indicate that he does not support the set aside scheme? Given the existence of such a scheme, however, can he indicate the amount of land at present set aside under the scheme which will not be used for productive purposes?
That is a separate question.
It is related.
The Chair decides that.
I thought I made it clear that it was not at my request a set aside scheme was introduced——
The Minister is opposed to it.
There is not much point in being opposed to the law because I have to implement it. The scheme was introduced on 1 October 1988 and, to date, a total of £140,645 has been paid to 64 recipients.