Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

442. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to fund the establishment of a national network of forest producer groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43930/17]

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

The Forestry Programme 2014-2020 includes a specific measure to fund the establishment of new producer groups for private forest owners. Applicants would need to submit a detailed business plan providing a description of the project, including objectives, timelines and projected expenditure. So far the Department has received no applications under this measure; however my Department is aware of a single application that might materialise in 2018. The reason for the poor up take of this scheme is that there are already in existence 19 producer groups across the country with 960 members (Spring 2017). It may be the case that the existing network is, in the most part, sufficient for the demand that currently exists for this type of local organisation.

Funding available under producer groups could also be made available for amalgamating existing groups where a new group is formed with a new business plan.