Brian Cowen
Question:14 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has to address the decline in cereal growing in Ireland and the consequential increasing dependence on imports. [3477/95]
Written Answers. - Cereal Growing.
The areas of cereals and set-aside for which arable area payments were claimed in 1994 were 251,768 hectares and 36,962 hectares respectively, or a combined total of 288,730 hectares. This compares with a total of 301,500 hectares of cereals recorded from the 1991 census of agriculture.In addition area aid was claimed for 11,648 hectares of oilseeds and protein crops, making a total of 300,378 hectares out of Ireland's national base area of 345,000 hectares.
It is clear 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 also played a significant part in reducing output.
Production of cereals fell by 25 per cent between 1992 and 1994 — a drop of 500,000 tonnes. This is a matter of very serious concern for me and I am seeking, as a major priority, solutions which will help to achieve self sufficiency in grain supplies.
Reduced production was to be expected as part of the CAP reform obligations which apply equally throughout the Community. However, the effects of set-aside can be offset by using to the full the 45,000 hectares of national base area which remained unutilised in 1994.
I am convinced that a major constraint in achieving this goal is the eligible land rule, which is restricting the amount of land available for grain production and which is also contributing to higher land prices.
I am actively pursuing this problem with the EU Commission and I was encouraged by the positive response which I received when I discussed it with Commissioner Fischler last week.