Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for farmers here in view of the continued growth in domestic demand for organic products and the scale of the €2.1 billion UK and €4.6 billion German markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3549/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The renewed programme for Government includes a commitment to meeting the growing demand for domestically produced organic produce by providing adequate resources and supports for the achievement of the target of 5% land area in organic production, with a focus on import substitution in areas where Ireland is under-producing at present. The organic farming scheme, which was reopened at the beginning of the year, will provide for payments to farmers and the capital schemes of grant aid provides support for both on-farm and off-farm investment. This commitment will encourage farmers who might be considering the organic option for the first time to take it a step further and prepare to apply for support in 2010.

Following a review of the organic farming scheme during 2009, applicants will now be required to submit a business plan and, if they have not previously taken part in the organic supplementary measure in REPS, to undertake an approved training course. These changes in the scheme are designed to ensure that the farmers joining it are those who have most to offer to the growth of the organic sector so that it can meet the increasing demand from consumers for organic produce.

The grant schemes, which support investment by both producers and processors, have been successful since their launch in 2007. They were closed temporarily in mid-2009 because applications on hands at that point were enough to use up the funding provided for the year. These schemes were reopened at the beginning of this year.

My Department will continue to support initiatives such as national organic week and Irish participation in Biofach, the largest international showcase for the organic sector. Forás Orgánach, the body which I established to drive forward the development of the organic sector in Ireland, will continue to review and advise on issues as they arise.