Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2008
1588 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to amend the proposal to publish details of individual beneficiaries of schemes funded or co-funded by Europe in view of the safety concerns raised by farmers living in isolated rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30444/08]
View answerThe publication of certain details of payments to individual beneficiaries under schemes funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is a mandatory requirement under Council Regulation (EC) 1290/2005. The Regulation is binding and directly applicable in all Member States. My Department, as the EU paying agency in Ireland for EAGF and EAFRD payments, is required to implement the Regulation in its entirety and has no flexibility in regard to the publication requirement. Names, addresses and information on amounts paid will be published. The addresses which will be published will be the county and the address line immediately above county as supplied by the payment beneficiaries to my Department.
1589 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will approve applications under the farm improvement scheme lodged prior to the suspension of the scheme in order to enable those applicants to proceed with grant aided work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30465/08]
View answerApplications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme by the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.
