Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the organic farming sector; the methods being used by her Department to promote this sector; the future she envisages for farmers involved in this type of enterprise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33450/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am strongly committed to the development of the organic sector in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture and Food already provides substantial financial supports for organic producers, through the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the Scheme of Grant Aid for the development of the organic sector. Since REPS began in 1994, it has delivered some €37 million to the sector. The new Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013 will build on the success of REPS by including measures designed particularly to encourage development in the organic tillage and horticulture areas. It is proposed, for example, to allow organic farmers to obtain organic support payments without having to be in the REPS Scheme. Special investment aid is also available for organic farmers and processors under the Scheme of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector, which supports investment both on-farm and off-farm. For on-farm investments, grant aid can be given for 40% of the cost up to a maximum grant of over €50,000. For off-farm investments, the maximum grant is over €500,000.

A lack of technical expertise has been recognised as a barrier to progress in the organic tillage and horticultural areas. To address this information deficit, my Department, in conjunction with Teagasc, arranged this year to bring in two specialist agronomists, on a pilot basis, from the UK. Through farm visits and workshops, they shared their experiences with producers and this has been of immense value. Another successful initiative has been the demonstration farm programme. It continued during 2006 and a total of 13 farms were used throughout the country to promote organic farming systems. My Department will continue to expand and improve this programme which is a major instrument in encouraging conventional growers to switch to organic.

Substantial progress has also been made on the implementation of the recommendations in the Organic Development Committee report, published in 2002. The three additional structures recommended are now into their second three-year terms. The National Steering Group advises me on all policy issues relating to the sector. The Steering Group is supported by two sub-Groups, the Partnership Expert Working Group and the Organic Market Development Group. The Partnership Expert Working Group is responsible for training, education, advice and research. The Organic Market Development Group has overall responsibility for developing a national marketing strategy for organic food. In this regard Bord Bia, in consultation with the Market Group, has recently produced a three-year Organic Marketing Plan. The objective of the plan is to develop the organic sector in Ireland for existing suppliers and new entrants. Included in the plan is National Organic Week which this year runs from November 6th to 12th. The decoupling of farm payments has established a policy framework in which farmers have the freedom to farm in response to market demands. In this more market-oriented scenario, there is real scope for organic production to expand with the help of the incentives that I have outlined already.