Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
1192. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts his Department is making to realise the commitment to maximise national co-financing of CAP pillar 2 schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30902/21]
View answerIreland’s execution of the EAFRD 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP) to date is one of the highest in Europe with 92% of the approved €2.1bn existing EAFRD financial plan having been executed to date in comparison to the EU average to date of 69%.
The Department has executed 95% of the existing EAFRD funding allocation of €2.033bn (excl Leader) with the remaining existing funds fully committed.
EU approval has recently been received for an amendment to the RDP, which will incorporate additional funding of €880m provided under transitional arrangements, bringing the overall EAFRD 2014-2022 envelope to €3.07bn.
With regard to the next programming period, the Department is actively engaging with both the European Commission and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in order to optimise the use of available EU funds going forward.
