Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2014
297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the package of supports that will be available specifically to support island farmers; the amount of funds allocated in budget 2015 and in the rural development programme towards this objective; his views on top up payments to existing or new schemes for island farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40278/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn developing the final draft of the new Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which has been submitted to the EU Commission for approval, I was very conscious of the challenges facing farmers farming lands situated on the islands. In particular, I am fully aware of the additional costs incurred in farming island lands. Mindful of this, I have decided to target specific support for island farmers via a new top-up to be introduced under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme. This additional payment will commence in 2015 with the introduction of the ANC Scheme, which is currently known as the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. I am proposing the use of differential payment rates, however this is subject to clearance by the EU Commission. My Department is currently in the process of identifying and investigating all islands situated both offshore and inland on lakes and rivers, and determining the eligibility of each. Following initial analysis, it has been considered that islands connected to the mainland by permanent access route will not incur the same costs as farmers living and farming on the islands and therefore will not be eligible. These proposals have been submitted to the Commission earlier this week as part of the overall Rural Development Programme, with approval anticipated later this year.
