Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

261. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give consideration to a matter (details supplied) regarding the knowledge transfer programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23547/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A budget of €100m has been allocated to the Knowledge Transfer Programme for the duration of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

Article 14 of EU Regulation 1305 of 2013 provides the funding basis for Knowledge Transfer Groups and allows member states to fund all or some of the costs incurred and income foregone by both farmers and facilitators. This is in addition to the benefits derived by farmers from the training provided under the Programme.

Costs for the programme are set out in Ireland's Rural Development Programme with the farmer payment of €750 per year based on the time spent attending meetings and preparing the Farm Improvement Plan as well as travel costs associated with attending each meeting.

The facilitator payment of €500 per farmer per year relates to  time spent preparing for and delivering the Knowledge Transfer meetings and also reflects the one to one time spent with individual farmers preparing and completing their individualised Farm Improvement Plan. It also covers administrative costs associated with the operation of each group.  

These payment rates are set following an extensive stakeholder consultation process and negotiation of the RDP with the EU Commission.