Vol. 474 No. 4
144 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total amount of moneys paid out in 1996 under the EU set-aside scheme; the purpose of this scheme; and the top ten payments made under this scheme. [3254/97]
In 1996 £7.98 million was paid out in Ireland under the EU set-aside scheme.
As part of the measures introduced under the CAP reform, a system of compensatory payments for cereals producers was introduced in 1993. The aid payable was to compensate farmers for the fall in the EU's support prices for their products. The rules of the area aid scheme require farmers who are applying for arable aid on more than 37 acres — 15.13 hectares — to put a percentage of their arable land into set-aside, i.e. they must leave the land, which was used to produce a harvestable crop in the previous year, idle. Strict management rules apply to this land.
