Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1569. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a new scheme or create more places on the current scheme for new organic farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25659/16]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1572. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an organic farming scheme for new entrants will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25700/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1569 and 1572 together.

The new Organic Farming Scheme has proved extremely successful, attracting more new applicants than any previous organic scheme, and encouraging a significant number of Irish farmers to convert to organic farming systems. This is a co-funded scheme, supported jointly through the Rural Development Programme by the EU and the Irish Exchequer. At this point in time, the budget allocated to the new scheme in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme has been fully committed and all targets set for the scheme within the RDP have already been achieved.

My Department keeps a close eye on expenditure under all headings of the RDP and I will consider the options for reallocation of funds between headings at an appropriate time.