Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
1351. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that small and medium farmers of moderate incomes will be protected in the upcoming December budget given the social importance of the agriculture sector to rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36974/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2013 Estimate for my Department will be considered within the context of the gross expenditure ceilings that were allocated to all Departments for the period 2012 -2014 under the Government’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework. The Government decision in relation to the expenditure ceilings was taken in order to strike a balance between needs and priorities on a multi-annual basis, to meet the requirements of the overall fiscal commitments which are firmly focused on returning the public finances to a sustainable path and to reduce the General Government Deficit by end 2015.
Preparations for the discussions on the 2013 Estimate are under way in the Department and all budget lines in the Vote will be examined as part of that process having regard to the funding constraints for next year. My intention is to ensure that all resources available to my Department will be managed to provide the optimum benefit to economic activity in the agricultural, food, fisheries and forestry sectors, including farm incomes, and to realising the potential which clearly exists for the sectors to contribute to the national economic recovery.
