Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

20 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the progress which has been achieved in the delivery of direct payments to producers in the past four years; the way in which Ireland compares with other member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30056/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Since 1 January 2001, almost £922 million has been paid to farmers under the various direct payment schemes – almost £805 million under the compensatory allowances, premium and arable aid schemes of which almost £483 million is in respect of the 2001 schemes and a further £117 million under the rural environment protection scheme, REPS. The payment position under the 2001 compensatory allowance and premia schemes compares very favourably with the position at similar times in the past four years which was as follows:

Scheme Year	Amount Paid 23rd-24th November£ million
2000 Schemes	£384
1999 Schemes	£400
1998 Schemes	£455
1997 Schemes	£359

In accordance with EU rules, only 60% advances were paid under the 1997, 1999 and 2000 cattle premium schemes. However, following the fallout under the BSE crisis in Europe late last year, a further 20% of premium was paid in December 2000 in respect of the 2000 cattle premium schemes. I was also successful in securing EU agreement to an 80% advance under this year's bovine premium schemes.

The payment targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers and previously in the charter of rights for farmers, are very specific and my Department has a good record in relation to their achievement, and indeed has surpassed them on a number of occasions. For example, full payments under the new 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme commenced on the agreed date of 21 September 2001 and over £162.5 million has been paid to date. With regard to the 2001 cattle premium schemes, 80% advance payments commenced on 26 October – the day the EU regulation giving effect to the increased rate of advance, was published. Some £144.5 million issued to beef farmers on 26 October 2001 and to date, over £183.7 million has been paid to beef farmers under these schemes. Full payments under the 2001 arable aid scheme commenced on 16 November – the date specified in EU regulations and in the protocol – and in excess of £94 million was paid to some 95 % of all applicants on that day.

While an up-to-date comparison with other member states is not available, an earlier comparison showed that Ireland performed very well in the delivery of direct payments to Irish farmers. For most schemes, Ireland rated between one and five amongst the 15 member states in terms of early payment in the 1997/98 scheme year.

Overall, the level of payments achieved to date displays my commitment to the early delivery of payments to farmers and is in line with the targets agreed with the farming bodies in the protocol.