Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approved persons who have applied to the knowledge transfer group scheme under the rural development programme 2014 to 2020 and to date in 2017 in the beef, sheep, dairy, tillage, equine and poultry sectors; the targeted number of groups formed; the number of groups finalised to date; the number of payments that will issue; the 2017 budget allocation for the KTG scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47539/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Knowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves the formation of knowledge transfer groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors.

Funding of €100m under the Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020 has been allocated for this measure, which involves Department approved agricultural consultants acting as Knowledge Transfer Facilitators administering groups operating over a three year period.

The number of applications received for Knowledge Transfer Groups and Participants is broken down between the sectors in the following table: 

It should be noted that a portion of those applications received did not meet eligibility requirements and therefore did not progress to take part in the Programme.  Additionally a number of group facilitators and participants subsequently decided that they no longer wished to proceed in the programme.

To date approximately 19,100 farmers in circa 1,190 Knowledge Transfer Groups have actively participated in the Programme attending group meetings, approved Knowledge Transfer National events and completing Farm Improvement Plans and Animal Health Measures.

€23m is allocated in the Department's vote for 2017 in respect of the Knowledge Transfer Payments.  Payments commenced at the end of October for participants who successfully completed Year One and are currently being rolled out across the six sectors.