Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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645. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the organisations, statutory and otherwise, that have an official role in advising him regarding the National CAP Strategic Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59867/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the development of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, a national CAP Stakeholder Consultative Committee was established in 2019.

The Committee comprises representatives of the main stakeholders including farm bodies, NGOs, industry representatives and academia. It also includes other relevant Government Departments (Public Expenditure and Reform, Rural and Community Development, Environment, Climate and Communications, and Housing, Local Government and Heritage) and Agencies (Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Environmental Protection Agency).

The Stakeholder Consultative Committee is the main stakeholder forum which has provided input to the CAP reform negotiations and the development of the CAP Strategic Plan. It has met on more than twenty five occasions. All agendas, presentations and meeting minutes, including a full list of representative bodies, are available on www.gov.ie/cap.

As well as this formal structure, ongoing bilateral engagement with stakeholders has continued on various elements of the CAP Strategic Plan. I have also engaged directly with farmers across the country through the local mart system. I visited 27 marts in 25 counties to hear directly from farmers their views on the CAP. Department officials have also collaborated across Government Departments and Agencies on the content of the draft Plan as it has been developed.

As the Deputy is aware, officials have also presented on the CAP reform negotiation process, and on the draft CAP Strategic Plan, to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

I would also mention that the public consultation on the draft Environmental Report, draft Natura Impact Statement and draft CAP Strategic Plan, is currently nearing its conclusion, and I would encourage all to have their say. The closing date is Wednesday the 8^thof December and full details are available on www.gov.ie/cap.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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646. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Teagasc has an official role in advising him regarding the National CAP Strategic Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59874/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Teagasc has a key role in advising my Department on all aspects of agriculture as part of its function as a state research and advisory body.

As regards the CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027, Teagasc is represented on the national CAP Stakeholder Consultative Committee, and provides valuable input through this forum. The Committee comprises representatives of the main stakeholders including farm bodies, NGO’s, industry representatives and academia, as well as the relevant Government Departments and agencies. The Committee has met on more than 25 occasions since its inception.

In addition to this formal structure, there is ongoing bilateral engagement with Teagasc by Department officials, to ensure the utilisation of best practice, latest research and modelling to inform the development of the Plan. Teagasc has also provided input to the environmental assessment of the draft Plan.

The role of the advisory services will also be critical to the effective implementation of the Plan. One of the Plan's cross-cutting objectives is the modernisation and digitisation of the sector, including through increased knowledge sharing and innovation, via new so-called Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS). This will require a strong and coherent advisory service, in which Teagasc will play a central role.