Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 6

Written Answers. - National Development Plan Cutbacks.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

55 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total financial allocation under the National Development Plan, 1994-1999 as originally drafted for areas for which he has responsibility; the allocation following the overall cut of 8.5 per cent announced by the Government on 3 March 1994; the way in which this will be applied to the projects for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael McDowell

Question:

56 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the assurances, if any, he will give that headage payments will not be affected by cutbacks necessitated by the downward revision in the amount of money available under the Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

61 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the assurances, if any, he will give that headage payments will not be affected by cutbacks necessitated by the downward revision in the amount of money available under the Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 56 and 61 together.

Total public funding allocated under the National Development Plan for areas for which I have responsibility was £1,500 million. As the Deputies are aware, due to the shortfall in EU funds and in the context of the negotiations leading to a Community Support Framework for Ireland, the Government has proposed apro rata reduction across all measures contained in the National Development Plan. However, as no final decisions have yet been made in the framework of the partnership with the EU Commission, I am not in a position to give definitive figures at this stage either on the overall allocation which my Department is likely to obtain or on the breakdown of funding as between individual schemes.