Written answers

Thursday, 14 May 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Rural Development Programme

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

35. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis on which a fee of €500 per farmer was agreed for facilitators in the new knowledge transfer scheme; if this payment is justified, particularly where there are a large number of farmers in a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18463/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Knowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and will involve the formation and administration of knowledge transfer groups across the Beef, Dairy, Equine, Poultry, Tillage and Sheep sectors. Funding of €100m under the Rural Development Programme has been allocated for this measure. The measure involves Department approved knowledge exchange groups operating over a three year period with farmer meetings involving the exchange of information and best practices facilitated by qualified advisors. Facilitators will also assist participating farmers in the completion of a tailored Farm Improvement Plan that will address the key issues such as profitability, sustainability, animal health and welfare and breeding.

Article 14 of EU Regulation 1305 of 2013 on Rural Development provides the funding basis for Knowledge Transfer Groups and allows member states to fund all or some of the costs incurred and income foregone of both farmers and facilitators. From a facilitator perspective funding includes time spent preparing for and delivering the knowledge exchange meetings and also the time spent with individual farmers completing their Farm Improvement Plan. It also covers administrative costs associated with the operation of each group. The facilitator payment totals €500 per farmer per year. This payment has been independently verified and reflects the emphasis on the individual time the facilitator will be required to spend with each farmer under this measure. Together with facilitating a minimum of 5 knowledge exchange meetings per group, facilitators will be required to spend a total of 12 hours over the period of the programme directly engaging with each individual farmer in completing and updating the Farm Improvement Plan.

From a farmer perspective the funding covers the time spent attending meetings and preparing the Farm Improvement Plan as well as travel costs associated with attending each meeting. This totals €750 per farmer per year and represents a net increase when compared to the previous payments under the various discussion groups.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.