Vol. 446 No. 7
58 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the shortfall between the area of cereals harvested in 1994 and the national base area under CAP reform; the proposals, if any, he has to prevent a further decline in Irish grain production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2789/94]
Ireland's national base area of 345,000 hectares represents the maximum area for which arable area payments can be made, not only for cereals, but also for oilseeds, protein crops and set-aside. In addition, land used to grow cereals and the other eligible crops, but declared as forage area for the purpose of the livestock premia schemes, is included in this maximum.
The total area of eligible arable crops and set-aside for which area-linked payments were claimed in 1994 was 310,214 hectares. This included 262,811 hectares of cereals. It also included 36,753 hectares of set-aside land, virtually all of which would have related to cereal crops.
The combined area under cereals and in set-aside in 1994 was 299,634 hectares. This compares with the 1991 Census of Agriculture figure for cereals, of 301,500 hectares. It is clear, therefore, that set-aside was the main contributory factor in the reduced cereals area and consequently reduced production. However, yield losses due to adverse weather conditions over the past two years also played a major part in reducing output.
Set-aside of land is a key element of CAP reform. It is an obligatory requirement under the arable support system and applies in all member states without exception. It is not open to me to waive this requirement. However, I welcome the decision made by the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers last week to reduce the set-aside requirement by 3 per cent — a proposal which received my full support.
I am aware also of the potential threat to Irish cereal production posed by the eligible land requirement which restricts arable production to certain types of land. It is my intention to seek the removal of the eligible land requirement in the context of individual base areas, as a matter of priority.
