Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1209. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department is addressing the bureaucracy and red tape that persons are facing when it comes to the knowledge transfer programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36276/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the Knowledge Transfer Programme is to address identified knowledge gaps in six agriculture sectors contributing to increased efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness which benefit not just the individual farmers involved but also the agriculture sector as a whole.

The three year scheme provides farmers with an opportunity for group learning through meetings facilitated by an agricultural consultant, complemented by tailored advice on a one to one basis to form an individualised Farm Improvement Plan. The annual payment to facilitators under the programme of €500 per participant includes a provision for administration work related to running the group as well as for meeting costs and time spent preparing individualised Farm Improvement Plans. The farmer is reimbursed €750 annually for time spent away from his enterprise while attending meetings and collaborating with the facilitator on the Farm Improvement Plan.