Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes in funding over the past three years by his Department to an organisation (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1928/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA) is one of a number of organisations who carry out important work in the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in Ireland. Their funding comes primarily from three sources: the State, membership fees and their own commercial activities (sale of apple trees, plants etc).

The following table outlines the level of funding provided by my Department to ISSA over the past three years:

My Department's funding to ISSA is restricted to supporting its core activities in the area of conservation and sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and funding is not intended to cover all costs and expenditures of the Association. The allocation of funding year-on-year should be seen against a backdrop of the prevailing economic climate and the continued pressure on Departmental spending.

Significantly, funding for ISSA in 2013 was approximately double the total amount of all other financial supports given to organisations engaged in genetic conservation projects, which are involved not only in the plants area but which also includes important projects relating to animals, aquatics, forestry, micro-organisms and invertebrates.

In any event, my Department is positively disposed to continuing its relationship with ISSA and in this regard has provisionally set an increased allocation of €115,000 for the current year. However, funding under the Conservation of Genetic Resources Scheme, which includes payments to ISSA, is subject to EU State Aid rules. Confirmation of the renewal of State Aid approval for this Scheme is awaited from the European Commission and no definitive allocation can be made until this process is completed.