Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question is for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and relates to the knowledge transfer scheme, the three initial years of which ran out during the past month or so.

In particular, will the Minister agree to extend the scheme for a further year? As he is aware, at the outset it was budgeted for up to 28,000 farmers to participate but only approximately 19,000 farmers have taken part in it. Given the initial envelope, there is enough funding to extend it. The scheme is of great benefit in terms of knowledge transfer but it also assists with the incomes of farmers who participate. Will the Minister give a commitment to examine the matter and to extend the scheme for a further year?

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