Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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494. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the participation payment of the organic farming scheme will be paid; if the timing of such has been revised; if so, when; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5948/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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One of the solutions proposed to addressing the barrier to more farmers joining the organic farming scheme was the introduction of an annual participation payment. This is to cover the administration costs for farmers on issues like annual certification. 

The Department introduced this under the new Organic Faming Scheme and organic farmers will now receive a participation payment of €2,000 while in their first year of conversion and €1,400/annum thereafter while they are participants in the scheme.

The participation payment will be paid in accordance with EU Regulations after all checks have been undertaken and accompany the main scheme payment. I expect this will be during late November or early December this year in line with previous years. We will confirm the exact payment date closer to the time.