Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approved persons that have applied to the knowledge transfer group, KTG, scheme in the beef, sheep, dairy, tillage, equine and poultry sectors, in tabular form; the targeted number of groups formed; the number of groups finalised to date; the number of payments that have issued to date; the 2017 budget allocation for the KTG scheme; the funds allocated to the scheme under the 2014-2020 rural development programme, RDP; the amount of moneys expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53636/17]

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.

A breakdown of the number of applications received for the Knowledge Transfer Programme is provided below:

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 with a further circa 1% of participants withdrawing from the scheme during the course of the Programme to date.

Approximately 19,100 farmers in circa 1,190 Knowledge Transfer Groups have actively participated in the Programme attending a range of Knowledge Transfer Group Meetings, Knowledge Transfer approved National Events and completing Farm Improvement Plans and Animal Health Measures.

A budget of €23m has been allocated for 2017 in respect of the Knowledge Transfer Programme. Payments commenced at the end of October for participants who successfully completed all elements of Year One of the Programme.  To date, in excess of €10 million has been paid to over 13,500 participants across the six sectors. Payments are continuing as more facilitators return their documentation.