Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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357. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agricultural sustainability advisers employed under the Agricultural Sustainability Support Advisory Programme; the number of farms availing of support under this programme; the number of farms in identified priority areas of action participating in this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51850/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agricultural Support & Advisory Programme (ASSAP) is an innovative Government/ industry initiative running from 2018 to 2021 and involves a well-structured collaborative initiative involving all stakeholders, including the wider community, to facilitate improvements in water quality. The ASSAP involves a resource of 31 Agricultural Sustainability Advisors, 20 of whom are funded by Government and 11 by the Dairy Industry.

There were 190 Priority Areas for Action (PAA)  identified by the EPA and 41,126 herdowners were identified as located in the PAA’s.

The most recent data available is as at 31 December 2020, and there were 1,810 farmers availing of the support of ASSAP advisors.  In addition, ASSAP has held 136 community meeting, 107 farmer meetings and 222 discussion groups  to further engage with the farming community.