Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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460. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the resources which have been made available for social farming in 2018; the way in which this may be made more sustainable for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22370/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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A provisional allocation of €660,000 is being provided for Social Farming in 2018 under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund (RIDF) which is linked to the recommendations of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA). 

2017 saw the continuation of funding for the design, development and implementation of the national Social Farming Network.  The contract with Leitrim Development Company Social Farming Network was extended to October 2018.  The National Social Farming Office was established by Leitrim Development Company, with the assistance of funding by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  It supports the development of a national social farming network in collaboration with other Local Development Companies.

The ongoing funding for the Social Farming Network project during 2017 provided continuity and stability to Leitrim Development Company for the development of a sustainable network for social farming in Ireland.  This maintained support is central to upholding the operation of the project especially given the commitment from farmers and service providers in the development and roll-out of this initiative in rural communities throughout Ireland. 

In addition to the national Social Farming Network, funding was provided to develop a number of social farming model projects.  The projects funded as part of this included:

- Leitrim Integrated Development Company for a ‘Social Farming Best Practice Model’

- South Kerry Development Partnership for the ‘Kerry Social Farming Project’

- Down Syndrome Ireland Cork Branch for phase 2 of the ‘Fields of Dreams’ project

The contracts awarded under Social Farming for the national Social Farming Network and the development of social farming model projects were for a period of one year.  The Department may extend these contracts for a maximum of three such extensions thereby providing continued stability and support to the initiatives.