Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a good bit of common ground on the green, low-carbon, agri-environment scheme, GLAS, on CEDRA in particular, and on knowledge transfer and farm safety. There is no provision this year for the locally-led environment schemes. Will they even be opened for application? Regarding knowledge transfer and the beef technology adoption programme, BTAP, I have been told by people who are being notified for the 2015 BTAP discussion groups that they are going to have to pay, even though the provision per participant to TEAGASC is, I understand, €350. Each individual participant is going to have a lesser amount net at the end of the year. Going back to what Deputy Deering has said, as much as possible of that money should go to the primary producer, to the participants. Otherwise it is not going to be attractive. The principle of knowledge transfer and discussion groups should be encouraged rather than discouraged.

The Minister has a range of questions and comments to deal with. I thank the members as we covered the ground in 22 minutes.