Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 2

Written Answers. - Farmer Payments.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

18 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the average amount in national and EU direct payments drawn down by farmers in 1995; the total amount of such payments; the 1996 projection; the changes, if any, he anticipates being made to the operational programme for agricultural rural development and forestry following this year's mid-term review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Direct payments to about 160,000 producers from national and EU funds amounted to £747.2 million in 1995: the average payments for 1995 accordingly amounted to £4,670. No significant increase in these payments is anticipated in 1996.

As regards any changes which might be made to the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry, the position is that the Community Support Framework for Ireland under the 1994-99 round of Structural Funds stipulates that an independent mid-term review has to be carried out by 1997 of the CSF as a whole and also of the nine operational programmes contained therein. My Department has recently invited applications for such a review in the case of our operational programme and I expect it to be completed before the end of 1996.

Recommendations which may emerge as a result of the review for changes to any of the measures contained in the operational programme will have to be considered in the context of the completion of the mid-term review of the CSF as a whole.