Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the organic farming scheme will reopen for applications; his plans to reopen the scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19241/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The current Organic Scheme in the Rural Development Programme is fully subscribed and has used all available funding. It was therefore closed and I currently have no plans to reopen it on the basis that overall funding for the RDP is fully committed.

A new Organic Sector Strategy Group was established in March this year by my Department. This new Group is tasked with developing a strategy for the development of the Organic Sector for the period up to 2025. The Terms of Reference of the Organic Sector Strategy Group include an assessment of the case for a targeted reopening of the Organic Farming Scheme, looking to best economic and environmental outcomes. I expect to have the Group's recommendations well before the end of this year and this will be the next opportunity to examine the issue.