Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have been working hard to try to improve the uptake of organics and the appetite has been increasing among farmers for the organic scheme. In terms of the next CAP programme, we have increased the funding for organics fivefold. It is something we intend to drive on very significantly at Government level and to make real progress on over the next years. The message I have for many farmers is to consider how suitable organics would be for them and how much would be involved for them to go organic, and to look in particular at how their income could be improved for those who take up that option. With regard to the projection for next year, the output target for last year was 1,880 and we are hoping to increase that by about 400 to 2,230 this year. That is certainly doable. We have the funding in place to do it and we will certainly be getting the message out there to farmers to apply.