Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
854. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for Exchequer co-financing of the Common Agricultural Policy from 2014; if provision has been made in the multi-annual estimate for 50:50 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46469/13]
View answer921. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when final decisions will be made on the rural development programme 2014-2020; the level of co-financing that will be provided for this programme by his Department; the percentage co-funding under EU rules that attaches to each sub measure; the percentage co-funding being proposed by his Department under each sub-measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46569/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 921 together.
Work is currently ongoing to design the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the period from 2014 – 2020. In designing the new RDP, my Department must take account of a range of requirements set out in the draft Rural Development Regulation and the need to support key policy aims for the agri-food sector.
The draft Rural Development Regulation sets out a menu of possible measures for the new RDP, including a compulsory Agri Environment Climate Scheme, a Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, On Farm Investment Schemes, funding for training and knowledge transfer, and funding for farm and business development. Co funding rates vary between the different measures. Article 65 of the draft Regulation sets the maximum European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Fund (EAFRD) contribution at 53%. There are a number of derogations to this, including that the maximum EAFRD contribution shall be
- 80% for measures under the articles dealing with knowledge transfer and information, producer groups, co-operation, business start up for young farmers, and LEADER, and
- 75% for operations contributing to the objectives of environment and climate change mitigation under the articles dealing with investment in physical assets, afforestation and creation of woodland, the establishment of agroforestry systems, agri-environment and climate, organic farming, Natura 2000 and the water framework directive, areas of natural constraint and forestry environment and climate services and forestry conservation.
Final decisions in relation to what measures are to be included in the new RDP have not yet been made. Work is continuing on designing the new RDP on the basis of the requirements set out in the draft Regulation, and as part of this process my Department is in ongoing contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the overall financing that will be required. I expect to make decisions in relation to the RDP by the end of this year, and to submit a draft programme to the Commission in early 2014.
