Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Dairy Efficiency Programme was introduced in 2010, as a three year Programme (2010, 2011 and 2012) with the aim of encouraging, through participation in professionally facilitated discussion groups, the adoption of technology and best practice by participating farmers. In 2010 some 5,916 farmers qualified for payment totalling €5,363k, while in 2011 5,584 received €4,972k. Payments to successful applicants for the 2012 Scheme will issue towards the end of February. The intended three year period of the programme expired at the end of 2012. Nonetheless, and in order to ensure the maximum impact from the scarce resources available, I have decided to focus a new programme on encouraging milk suppliers who did not take part in the earlier DEP and potential new entrants to the sector to participate in the Programme. The closing date for applications to this new Programme is 15 February 2013 and details can be obtained from my Department’s website at (www.agriculture.gov.ie) under ‘Farming Sectors/Dairy Farming/Development Programme for Dairying ’.