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€ 48 Million in payments to Cavan farmers – SMITH
Mr Brendan Smith, T.D., has been informed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Joe Walsh, T.D., that in excess of € 48 Million was paid to farmers in Co. Cavan under the various livestock premia schemes, the area based disadvantaged areas compensatory allowances scheme, the rural environment protection scheme and the various agricultural structures schemes in the period from 1st January 2003 to the 16th of December 2003. In the same period payments totalling € 38 Million were paid to farmers in Co. Monaghan.
The Minister was responding to Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann tabled by Deputy Smith who stressed the need to provide the maximum support for the agricultural industry which he described as a vital part of a strong economy and the cornerstone of a vibrant rural community.
Deputy Smith welcomed the success of the Minister and the Officials in his Department in streamlining the delivery of the direct payment schemes to become the most efficient in the European Union and he added that the various compensatory schemes and financial support structures are essential to ensure that Ireland retains a vibrant farming sector.
The Minister in his reply outlining the various payments indicated that over € 11 Million was paid under the Suckler Cow Premia, almost € 11 Million under the Area Based Compensatory Allowances Scheme. The Special Beef Premia payments amounted to almost € 8 Million and the Extensification Premia amounted to € 6 Million, € 4 Million for slaughter premia, € 1.6 Million for Ewe Premia and € 5½ Million allocated for the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. A total of 46,387 payments were made in the period from 1st January 2003 to 16th of December 2003.
