Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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702. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount that was paid to advisers in relation to the Knowledge Transfer Programme; the amount paid to farmers during the three years of the scheme; and the average number of farmers per advisor. [60513/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Knowledge Transfer (KT) Programme 2016-2019, €35,679,471 was paid to participants and an additional €24,469,708 was paid to facilitators.

At the conclusion of the KT Programme, there were over 1,100 groups, with an average of 15 participants per group. As per the Terms and Conditions of the KT Programme, the number of participants involved in the KT groups could be up to a maximum of 18 farmers (12 in the case of Poultry) and facilitators were allowed to facilitate up to five KT groups.

I believe the KT Programme was an excellent initiative and I am committed to having it as a key element of the next CAP Programme 2023 - 2027.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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703. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if women who are not the head of a farm holding but who meet the eligible age and agriculture qualification criteria will be able to access the 60% TAMS in the next CAP if they join a formal farm partnership as is currently the case in the current Young Trained Farmer Partnership model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60535/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to delivering greater supports to young farmers and women farmers. It is proposed under an On-Farm Capital investment scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) that a general grant rate of 40% will be available for eligible investments. It is also proposed in the CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%. This is the first time that such a proposal has been brought forward and I am proud to be supporting the crucial role of women farmers.

It is currently being proposed that eligible female farmers are those:

- Aged between 18 years of age and 55 at any time during the calendar year in which she submits an application for support;

- Meet the conditions for being head and having control of the holding;

- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at the time of application.

Applicants who do not meet the criteria above will remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%.

No decision has been made on the details of how registered farm partnerships will operate under the new On-Farm Capital Investment scheme.

The On-Farm Capital investment scheme, as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission. The public consultation is ongoing, and I will be reviewing the proposal once that closes in advance of the submission of the proposal to the Commission.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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704. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide additional financial supports under the rare breed preservation grant for the Droimeann breed and other breeds with a recently established breeding programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60536/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Droimeann Cattle Society was recognised by my Department as a Breed Society and approved to maintain a breeding programme for the breed in 2018. Considerable support was given, by officials from my Department, to the Society over a number of years in order for it to obtain this recognition and to design it’s breeding programme.

I acknowledge the effort that the Society has put in over many years in conserving the breed.

In October 2019, the Droimeann breed was recognised by my Department as a native rare breed.

Agri Environmental Schemes have been used as a vehicle to provide supports to native rare breeds over many years . GLAS is the current Agri-Environmental Scheme operated by my Department and includes measures to bring about conservation and preservation of rare breeds. The process is on-going to finalise the detail of the new Agri-environmental Scheme starting in 2023.