EU Regulations provide for financial support for animals in danger of being lost to farming, more commonly referred to as rare breeds and support is currently available through the Rural Environment Protection Scheme and the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. Future policy will be determined in the context of the introduction of the EU regulatory framework governing the next programming period 2014-2020. I expect that support for animals in danger of being lost to farming will continue to qualify for support in any future Agri-Environment Schemes.