Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will be authorised to administer a knowledge transfer programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20236/18]

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.  Department-approved agricultural consultants acting as Knowledge Transfer Facilitators administer groups operating over a three-year period.

The governing EU regulations for the KT Programme provide that the knowledge transfer provider is the beneficiary of the support and thus the terms and conditions of the programme provide that only in exceptional circumstances a group may be allowed to transfer to an alternative approved Knowledge Transfer Facilitator.

 The request for this KT Sheep group has been reviewed and accepted. It is expected that the requested transfer of facilitator will be completed shortly, following the standard verification of eligibility requirements.