Written answers

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Organic Farming Scheme

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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802. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new entrants likely to be permitted into the organics farming scheme; the process that will be used to determine successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34697/20]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) is one of the most successful Schemes under our current Rural Development Programme. The Scheme has more than achieved its targets in terms of new land converted and the maintenance of organic land. The area of land under organic production has expanded dramatically as a direct result of this Department's investment.

I have successfully negotiated an increased budget for 20201 with an additional €4 million to facilitate the re-opening of the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) next year. This will be included as one of the measures under the transitional regulation which I anticipate will be agreed later this year. The overall budget will also allow every existing participant in the scheme to roll-over their participation in the scheme for next year if they wish.

The number of entrants who will be permitted into the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in 2021 will depend on the level of applications received but the additional funding should, at average current level of participation, facilitate the entry of 400-500 new farmers. It's not possible to predict this figure exactly at this time until we open the scheme and see the level of interest. If the scheme is over-subscribed, successful participants will be determined by a ranking and selection process based on criteria which aim to further develop the organic sector and address deficits that currently exist.

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