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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 10

Written Answers. - Book of Estimates.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

60 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the £200,000 provided for in Vote 32 subhead L13 in the 1991 Book of Estimates (Abridged Version) will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

61 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the £100,000 provided for in Vote 32 subhead L14 in the 1991 Book of Estimates (Abridged Version) will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

62 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the increase provided for in Vote 32 subhead L6 in the 1991 Book of Estimates (Abridged Version); and the way in which the £800,000 will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

63 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the increase provided for in Vote 32 subhead H1 in the 1991 Book of Estimates (Abridged Version); and the way in which the £1.5 million will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

64 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the £800,000 provided for in grants for marketing and processing in the Public Capital Programme, 1991 will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

65 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the £11.5 million provided for integral rural development in the Public Capital Programme, 1991 will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

66 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the increase provided for in Vote 32 subhead L11 in the 1991 Book of Estimates for Public Services (Abridged Version); and the way in which the £1.1 million will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

67 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the increase provided for in Vote 32 subhead L10 in the 1991 Book of Estimates for Public Services (Abridged Version); and the way in which the £11.6 million will be spent.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

68 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the £3.25 million Vote 32 subhead 14 in the 1991 Book of Estimates for Public Services (Abridged Version) is estimated.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

69 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the increase provided in Vote 32 subhead L4 in the 1991 Book of Estimates for Public Services (Abridged Version); and the way in which the £85 million will be spent.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 to 69, inclusive, together in the order in which the subheads referred to in those questions appear in the Abridged Version of the 1991 Book of Estimates.

The details requested by the Deputy are summarised in the tabular statement below.

Tabular Statement

Subhead H1 (Córas Beostoic agus Feola) —

Grant in aid for general expenses £1,500,000

The threefold increase on the original 1990 allocation will allow CBF to engage in an extensive promotion programme designed to increase commercial sales of Irish meat, thus enhancing returns to farmers and reducing dependence on EC market supports and volatile third country markets.

Subhead I4 Payment to World Food Programme (Grant in Aid) Account £3,250,000

This amount is being provided to assist third countries which have been seriously affected by the Gulf crisis.

Subhead L4 Financing of the Common Agriculture Policy — Expenses in connection with market intervention and the financing of other FEOGA (Guarantee Section) measures £85,000,000.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is the designated EC Intervention Agency for Ireland and in this capacity is authorised to make purchases of intervention commodities, milk products, beef and cereals, in order to support producer prices. The products purchased under intervention arrangements are retained in storage by the Department and sold at a later stage on the Community market or elsewhere.

The allocation provided is intended to cover two separate cost elements of intervention. It includes firstly the cost of borrowing the capital necessary to fund intervention purchases. In addition the allocation also covers the Department's costs in arranging for the necessary handling, transport, storage, etc. of intervention products. Additional requirements are estimated under both headings.

The EC for its part makes payments to the Department in respect of these operations. These receipts which are also estimated at £85 million in 1991 are accounted for under subhead M21.
Subhead L6 Grants for marketing and processing £800,000 (a capital service)
This amount represents enabling grants in the livestock marts, horse marketing, egg packing and potato processing sectors. On the basis of these grants Irish projects will be available for EC grants.
Subhead L10 Integrated Rural Development £11,600,000
This amount is to cover the cost of implementing the operational programme on rural development which is with the EC Commission for approval. It is expected that the programme will be ready for implementation early next year. It will extend to aid for farm diversification, agritourism, horticulture, including organic production, forestry, services in rural areas, small and community enterprises and research and development in the food industry, as well as infrastructures such as road and fishery harbours which are covered by Estimates of other Departments. It will also extend to training and promotion.
Subhead L11 — Set Aside of Land £1,100,000
This amount is intended to cover the cost of the existing set aside scheme under which premia are paid to farmers who forego cereal production. In addition there is provision for the implementation of a recent EC scheme under which premia will be paid on land set aside under the scheme where cereals are grown for nonfood purposes.
Subhead L13 Extensification and Conversion of Production £200,000
Extensification schemes in the livestock sector on a nationwide basis are expected to get under way in 1991. Details of these schemes have yet to be worked out. The funds provided will meet any necessary costs arising.
Subhead L14 Measures to Combat and Control Irregularities £100,000
Under Council Regulation (4045/89 — Scrutiny by member states of transactions forming part of the system of financing by the Guarantee Section of FEOGA) — the EC are empowered to recoup to member states part of the cost of employing, training and equipping staff in implementation of this Regulation. This amount is the estimated national cost of these measures in 1991.
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