Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the final point made by the Deputy, this was one of measures the tillage farmers asked for when I met them. They also asked for a targeted agricultural modernisation scheme for the tillage sector and such a scheme will be announced in January 2017. They also sought to be included in the knowledge transfer and this has happened. The Deputy's assertion that this scheme is not what tillage farmers want is wide of the mark. In fact, it is what they asked for. Their access to it is funded through the €14 million that was provided by the Exchequer and thereby made available under de minimisrules, which allow for exemptions from State aid exclusion categories.

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