Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018
191. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a review of underspend in different subheads in his Department's estimates has been completed; if such underspend will be reallocated to support suckler farm incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23988/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s expenditure is monitored and managed carefully on an ongoing basis throughout the year and I fully expect all the funding allocated for 2018 will be expended closely in line with the distribution across subheads and schemes as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018. Accordingly I don’t anticipate that funding will be available in 2018 for reallocation to further support suckler farm incomes.
The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 is reviewed on an on-going basis to ensure that EU objectives are met and that all EU funding is fully drawn down. Expenditure on RDP schemes must be funded through the national exchequer in the first instance so clearly my Department’s Vote management and RDP monitoring are closely connected.
The latest RDP projected spend over the programme period confirms that the entire budget of some €4 billion is fully committed and expected to be spent and therefore no new schemes under the RDP can be considered at this time.
Currently, the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which provides Irish beef farmers with some €300 million in funding over the current Rural Development Programme (RDP) period. This scheme is an agri-environmental measure to improve the environmental sustainability of the national suckler herd by increasing genetic merit within the herd.
My Department has rolled out a range of relevant schemes as part of the RDP: In addition to the BDGP, other supports which are available for suckler farmers under the RDP (Pillar II of the CAP) include GLAS, ANCs and Knowledge Transfer Groups. Suckler farmers also benefit from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening payments under CAP Pillar I.
I am strongly of the view that the current range of supports available to suckler farmers, together with ensuring market access to as many markets as possible, both for live animals and beef exports, are appropriate supports for the continued development of the sector. National Farm Survey data suggests that suckler farmers receive support equivalent to approximately €500 per suckler cow on average.
I will continue to argue for as strong a CAP budget as possible, post 2020. In particular, I am committed to ensuring that suckler farmers continue to receive strong support in the next CAP. My view is that such payments should support and encourage suckler farmers to make the best decisions possible to improve the profitability, and the economic and environmental efficiency, of their farming system.
