Phil Hogan
Question:156 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a subsidy will be paid to maize growers for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25456/03]
Written Answers. - Direct Payment Schemes.
The EU regime for arable crops covers the area payments for this sector. Under this regime, Ireland has a base area of 345,500 hectares, of which 200 hectares applies to maize. In accordance with EU legislation, where claims for arable aid exceed the national base area, payments must be reduced in accordance with the extent of the overshoot. Maize silage producers were protected from penalties over the years by virtue of the fact that an overshoot of that base area could be offset by any undershoot of the base area for other crops. However, provisional figures for 2003 show that both the arable base area – all other cereals crops including set aside – and the maize base area of 200 hectares appear to have been breached this year.
In that situation, in accordance with EU legislation, the aid payable to maize growers must be reduced in proportion to the overshoot. The provisional figure for the maize overshoot is approximately 11,300 hectares. As the base area is only 200 hectares, a 100% reduction would be applied. There is no provision for a derogation from this rule in EU legislation and, accordingly, it is not open to member states to seek such a derogation.