Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

36 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total amount paid to farmers in respect of the setaside scheme during the first ten months of 1996; the number of farmers who received payment in the categories of £0 - £1,000, £1,000 - £5,000, £5,000 - £10,000, £10,000 - £25,000 and £25,000 -£50,000; the number of farmers who received payments of £50,000 or more; the amount in each case; the plans, if any, he has to review the operation of the setaside scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23017/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Just under £962,000 was paid to farmers in respect of setaside in the first ten months of 1996. In the same period a further £18.17 million was paid to farmers under the arable aid scheme in respect of crops sown. The breakdown of the setaside payments by the various categories is as follows:

Category	No. of farmers
£0 — £1,000	187
£1,000 — £5,000	407
£5,000 — £10,000	10
Over £10,000	0

The setting aside of land forms part of the EU system of support for producers of arable crops which was introduced as part of the reform of the CAP. The rules relating to the scheme are laid down in European Union legislation and it is not open to individual member states to change these rules unilaterally. The setaside rate is subject to annual review depending on the market. The future role of setaside as a supply control measure will, no doubt, be considered as part of any future reform of the CAP.