Enda Kenny
Ceist:146 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he proposes to implement improvements to the farm investment schemes as agreed in the partnership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25476/03]
Written Answers. - Direct Payment Schemes.
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:173 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the commitments he has made to improve farm grants and the REP scheme structure; the date from which he intends to implement these changes; his views on whether the delay in a clear statement on this issue is causing serious difficulties for farmers planning pollution control measures and other issues that his own Department are forcing them to implement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25543/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 173 together.
In the context of the Sustaining Progress negotiations, a number of proposals for significant changes to the farm waste management and dairy hygiene schemes were agreed. These included increasing the income unit ceiling for eligibility under the schemes to 450, as well as increasing the investment ceiling to €75,000 for farm waste works and to €50,000 for dairy hygiene works. In addition, a standardised rate of aid of 40% is to be introduced for most investments.
I have made it clear at all times that EU approval is required before we can implement these changes and that they were linked to the overall mid-term evaluation of the schemes. The formal approach to the EU must come from the regional assemblies, following consideration and approval by the monitoring committees. The committees met at the end of October and endorsed the changes and the assemblies have written formally to the Commission seeking approval. In the meantime, work is under way within my Department on drafting the revised scheme documents and necessary application forms in anticipation of early EU approval. Finally, it was agreed in Sustaining Progress that the standard costs which are used to calculate grant aid, should be revised. This matter falls completely within national competence and I have already implemented a number of significant increases, following a detailed assessment of the position.
The Sustaining Progress agreement also included a commitment in respect of REPS to seek approval in negotiation with the EU Commission and based on analysis of the underlying data, for payment rates of €200 for the first 20 hectares, €175 for the next 20 hectares and €70 for the next 15 hectares. In October 2002 I launched a consultative process on REPS which gave all stakeholder groups a chance to contribute to the formulation of an amended scheme. All aspects of the scheme, including the scheme measures, payment rates, controls and sanctions were reviewed. My officials are finalising proposals for an amended scheme with an implementation date of 1 January 2004. They will meet farming representatives later this week, after which the proposals will be submitted to the European Commission for approval.