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

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Any of us who has had the privilege and opportunity to travel abroad has seen, particularly in continental Europe, the potential of farmers' markets. The Deputy referred to the colour and vibrancy they bring to local towns. We are blessed to have a network of old market towns. Unfortunately, many of them have fallen victim to recent shopping trends, with supermarkets on the outskirts sucking life from their centres. Many of them are adorned with fabulous old squares which, once upon a time, were thriving marketplaces and which in recent years have become glorified car parks. There is an opportunity, in the context of the points made by the Deputy, to reinvigorate them, including through the provision of appropriate infrastructure to support country and farmers' markets.

It is no coincidence that the proposal comes from the constituency of Cork South West which adjoins mine and where there is a very strong tradition of engaging in artisan food production and a real emphasis on food provenance. I would certainly see the proposal as beneficial. Support for farmers' markets is provided by the Department through the CEDRA rural innovation and development fund. I have assigned a portion of the €1.5 million allocation in 2016 to agrifood tourism projects in rural Ireland. They include local farmer, food and artisan market schemes that support local and seasonal food production and artisan crafts. In this regard, the Department recently awarded funding of €445,000 through 13 separate agrifood tourism initiatives developed by local authorities in rural areas following a competitive process under the CEDRA rural innovation and development fund. These awards are managed by the local authorities, with a view to targeting specific supports relevant for local area development strategies. In general, the initiatives under the CEDRA rural innovation and development fund aim to energise the rural economy and, in particular, provide support for agrifood tourism projects which may assist rural communities which have taken steps to establish a local rural market to progress to opening stage or to facilitate established local rural markets to develop and maximise their potential and expand. The rural innovation and development fund will continue in 2017 and it is my intention that agrifood tourism will remain a key theme. I will reflect on the specifics of the Deputy's contribution in this regard.

Support for local markets is also provided through the departmental agency Bord Bia, with the provision of information assistance and publicity via its website for local food, country and farmers' markets. It includes a list of farmers in country markets and a guide to food markets in Ireland. Furthermore, recognising the need to assist small Irish food and drink start-up producers and traders in developing their market produce and brands, the support of skills and best practice for market organisers is also provided by Bord Bia. One such scheme is the voluntary good practice standard for farmers' markets that promotes good market governance and food safety and labelling compliance, while at the same time encouraging regular farmers' markets to be held in local communities that stock a substantial proportion of locally produced seasonal produce.

A new and important support initiative to support farmers' and country markets which starts in November is a series of regional workshops designed by Bord Bia to help stall holders to sell better at farmers' markets. The workshops aim to give practical solutions to challenges that all market sellers may encounter. They cover key areas of the market business and provide an opportunity for existing and prospective producers to network and share their experiences. Funding is also available through the Leader programme which in the next five to six years will have €250 million available for rural communities and represents 7% of the rural development programme budget during the period. Local authorities have some community support grants which may be of benefit to the type of project the Deputy is advocating.

See this speech in context