Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 4

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Billy Timmins

Question:

181 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the parts of the National Development Plan or the projects which have been put on hold or slowed down as a result of the downturn in the economy and the accompanying shortfall in incoming revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30689/01]

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

The national development plan provides some £4.3 billion for the agriculture, food and related rural development areas over the 2000-2006 period. The following summarises the relevant features.

A sum of £3.4 billion is available under the CAP rural development programme for rural environmental protection, early retirement and compensatory allowances schemes. The sum of £0.47 billion is provided under the Border, midland and western regional operational programme and the southern and eastern regional operational programme for on-farm investment, diversification, general rural development and advisory services. A total of £0.3 billion is available under the productive sector operational programme and the employment and human resources development operational programme for a full range of support measures for the food sector covering capital investment, research and development, marketing and promotion and human resources. A further £0.12 billion is provided under these operational programmes for agricultural research and training.

My Department plans to proceed with all the relevant measures and the vast majority of these are already being implemented as originally planned.