Vol. 542 No. 5
141 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has made a final decision as to the way in which the £8.2 million available under the 2002 National Beef Envelope will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25096/01]
There will be approximately £24.6 million available to my Department from the national envelope under Agenda 2000 in 2002 for distribution among beef producers. This compares with £16.4 million available for the current year which was used to top up the slaughter premium for beef breed heifers and to top-up the suckler cow premium in respect of replacement suckler cows in order to encourage a more rapid replacement of suckler cows.
Consultations on the allocation of the national envelope have just been completed between my Department and various farming organisations, some of whom have put forward specific proposals for the allocation of the additional £8.2 million available for next year.
I will be taking a decision on the matter in the next few weeks when my Department has completed its examination of the ideas put forward and the options open to me.
