Brendan Smith
Ceist:128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position on funding for CAP post 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23969/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 September 2020
Ceisteanna (128)
Freagraí scríofa
Funding for the CAP is normally determined as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations. On this occasion, in respect of the 2021-2027 period, the MFF has been accompanied by a new COVID-19 fund known as the Next Generation EU Recovery Instrument.
European Council agreement on this package, including the CAP budget, was reached at its meeting in July 2020.
The original proposed 5% cut to the CAP budget was reversed, with the result that Ireland's estimated overall allocation is estimated at €10.7 billion, in current prices. This represents a marginal increase on our current 2014-2020 allocation. It includes a special Rural Development allocation of more than €330m, in current prices.
The European Council agreement is a major step forward in finalising the CAP budget. However, work remains to be done. The funding package is a complex one, with additional mechanisms including the new European Recovery Instrument. This is also the case for the CAP budget, which has a number of elements including Pillar 1 (direct payments), Pillar 2 (rural development), special allocations for Member States (including Ireland) and European Recovery Instrument funding which will be spent under the rural development heading. Discussion is still ongoing in Brussels on some of the detail, including the timeframe for allocation of the European Recovery Instrument funding.
The budgetary package must now be agreed with the European Parliament, and I am hopeful of an early agreement in order to give certainty to farmers in realtion to funding and provide the foundation for an agreement on the post-2020 CAP.