Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 769: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the proposals by a proposal by the Irish Grassland Association for farmers to consider re-seeding as a practice; and his further views on the economic benefits this may bring to the farming community. [23522/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Grass re-seeding, if correctly carried out, is a cost effective means of significantly increasing productivity on the majority of livestock farms. Modern grass varieties are bred to meet the varied demands of these intensive enterprises. As a result of the grass seed evaluation programme carried out by my Department the current grass varieties recommended for use in this country have the ability, when grown on good soils, to produce excellent yield and quality while also extending the grass growing period. Over the last decade the annual rate of reseeding of pasture land in Ireland has been in the region of 2.5%. However in the 2010/2011 season, following strong promotion of the economic benefits of reseeding by Teagasc and others organisations such as Irish Grassland Association, this rate has increased considerably and this is a welcome development.