Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2008
412 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that EU support for Irish agriculture will be sufficient to give adequate support to the industry in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25982/08]
View answerAgreement on the Financial Perspectives of the EU for the period 2007-2013 was reached in the European Council in Brussels in December 2005. The main elements of the European Council's decision insofar as agriculture and rural development are concerned were to confirm budgetary allocations representing funding of €320 billion in current prices to pillar 1 of the CAP in the period to 2013, taking into account the transfer of funds from direct payments to Rural Development through compulsory modulation.
Under rural development, Ireland will receive its allocation of the EU rural development funds based on a historical key that works to our advantage. Taken together with the special allocation of €0.5bn agreed for Ireland at the European Council, this will give a total allocation to Ireland of €2.34bn over the period 2007-2013, including modulation. I am satisfied that the EU support for Irish agriculture under the agreed Financial Perspectives will be sufficient to provide adequate support to the industry in the period ahead.
