Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2012
190. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assist farmers, where in some sectors their incomes will be down as much as 30% as a result of the bad weather, rising feed costs, rising fertiliser costs and rising fuel costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51693/12]
View answerI am very conscious of the significant problems and pressures that the very heavy rainfall this summer has caused for farmers. I fully appreciate the importance of cash flow to farm enterprises and particularly so this year and I have responded swiftly to these pressures within the funds available to me.
I sought and received EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Farm Payment and immediately arranged for the commencement of the payments on 16 October. Almost 97% of eligible applicants have received an advance payment totalling altogether over €600 million to date. By year-end I expect payments of some €1.2 billion under the single payment scheme to have been disbursed to farmers .
The value and importance of other scheme payments to farmers are also very important and payments worth some €191 million under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme have been made since 26th September last. This funding will provide a boost to the rural economy and will benefit all areas of the country.
A further sum of €64 million was paid under the REPS scheme and I envisage that by the end of 2012 a further €121 million will be spent. AEOS payments are well advanced and continue to issue as quickly as possible. To date some €25 million has been paid and I expect that a further €32.2 million will be paid out before the end of 2012. My intention is to ensure that payments in respect of 2012 are made on the earliest possible date.
Recently, I announced the re-opening of AEOS to new entrants. I am providing €20 million for the scheme which will build on the success of REPS and both AEOS 1 and 2 in delivering an annual income to farmers in return for farming to high environmental standards. A maximum payment of €4,000 per annum will apply to individual applicants under the re-opened AEOS scheme. As the average payments in the past have been lower than the maximum, I am confident that up to 6,000 new participants can be accepted into the scheme.
Agricultural advisers have been very active in providing advice & assistance for farmers affected by the bad weather. A series of public meetings were held across the country in September to address fodder / financial and social aspects of the weather crisis. Weather clinics were held in all Teagasc offices recently and newsletters and media articles were prepared to outline options open to those farmers facing difficulties.
