Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will postpone the introduction of PCN charges on seed potato producers until full consultation can take place between her Department and the industry; if she will consider the introduction of a grant aid scheme in conjunction with the proposed new charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6121/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In order to provide growers with a period of adjustment to the changes introduced to the seed certification scheme, the charges for PCN testing will be deferred until 2006. The other charges proposed for services under the scheme relating to field inspection, sealing and labelling will however apply as planned later this year.

Wide consultation has already taken place with growers' representatives and others on the introduction of fees for the scheme and the original fee proposed for PCN testing was halved arising directly out of that process. In addition, in order to ensure that growers are fully aware of the new arrangements relating to seed production, a series of information meetings is being arranged by my officials and will take place over the next few weeks.

I will consider grant aid for producers who grow high quality certified seed in order to assist them in bringing their production systems up to the highest international standards. My overall aim is to bring commercial focus to the seed potato sector so that it can become more efficient and meet the needs of the industry, thus reducing our dependence on imports.