Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes he has made in the current rural development programme to the knowledge transfer measure; the update on the roll-out of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35071/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of sectors, including beef, dairy and sheep, will be established. The design of the measure has been informed by experience from previous discussion groups, extensive stakeholder consultation, and the relevant EU regulations. Participants are required to attend Knowledge Transfer Group meetings and complete a Farm Improvement Plan. I believe that the combination of both farmer knowledge exchange meetings and one to one interaction between the farmer and advisor in the development of a Farm Improvement Plan will ensure the transfer and exchange of information and best practice to participating farmers. The analysis of previous discussion group schemes and consultations leading up to the design of the Knowledge Transfer Programme highlighted the importance of addressing all aspects of a farming enterprise including profitability, environmental sustainability, farm safety and animal health and welfare measures.

In response to input from a range of stakeholders, some modifications in relation to the implementation of the Knowledge Transfer Programme have been addressed in relation to two specific requirements as follows:

- As currently constituted, participation in more than one Knowledge Transfer group across sectors is not permitted. This is largely due to potential double funding which would arise from the completion of more than one Farm Improvement Plan for a single farming enterprise. I have, however, asked my officials to examine how farmers could participate in more than one Knowledge Transfer group across two sectors, while at the same time avoiding double funding issues.

- The issue of allowing a named nominee to attend a Knowledge Transfer Group has also been raised and, following on from further consideration of this issue, an appropriate named nominee will now be allowed to attend meetings in the place of a farmer participating in a Knowledge Transfer Group. This would include spouses/partners or children of 18 years or more.

Initially, Groups in the Beef, Dairy and Equine sectors are being established. The relevant regulation requires that these Groups and facilitators be evaluated using ranking and selection criteria to ensure the best quality groups are initiated. This process is ongoing and once completed all candidate facilitators will be notified of the outcome. Following this, a final list of Knowledge Transfer facilitators and the sectors they have been approved to operate groups under will be published on my Department’s website.