Areas Scheme to get €16m boost

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, announced yesterday that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme would benefit from a once-off payment of some €16 million.

The minister said her decision was subject to EU approval and that the approval process would commence immediately.

The use of the modulated funds in this way in 2006 will be in addition to the €235m already available under the normal Area Based Compensatory Allowances.

Ms Coughlan pointed out that consultation would commence in the coming months on Ireland’s Rural Development Plan for the period 2007-2013 and on the use of funds for that period.