Vol. 514 No. 5
142 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will reconsider the proposal to establish a separate payments agency from his Department to handle premia and headage payments to the agricultural industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/00]
My Department is proceeding with a reorganisation of its structure which will involve dividing the Department into three pillars, catering respectively for policy development, FEOGA payments, and food production and safety.
The FEOGA pillar, to be called the agricultural payments office – APO – will be responsible for the administration of virtually all moneys disbursed in Ireland under the Common Agricultural Policy, amounting to a total of almost £2 billion per annum, of which approximately 75% derives from EU funds.
It is my intention that the APO will have sufficient autonomy to ensure focused and cost-effective management of the funds in question, reconciling the need to provide a quality service to farmers and rigorous accountability for the funds under its control.
