Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ASSAP advisors employed in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7880/23]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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419. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expand the number of ASSAP advisors to ensure progress on water quality is maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.

The Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) commenced in 2019 with 29 advisors. The number of advisors employed under the Programme has since expanded and 44 advisors are now engaged under the Programme. Twenty of these advisors are managed by Teagasc and funded by the Government through my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The remaining 24 advisors are funded by nine dairy processors.

The ASSAP advisors work across all counties in Ireland and collaborate with catchment scientists from the Local Authorities Waters Programme to provide farmers with confidential advice focused on preventing nutrient losses to water.

An external expert Review of ASSAP took place in 2021. It recommended the continuation and expansion of the Programme. Since then the Government Departments have committed to continue providing funding for this important Programme. At the same time, the dairy industry has committed additional advisors to the Programme.

In a further response to the 2021 Review, the Government has committed significant funding to support a Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP). The call for proposals under this EIP closed in late January and the proposals that were submitted are currently being evaluated. It has hoped that the EIP Water will significantly build on and further extend the positive work of the ASSAP.