Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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1733. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he has examined the provision of upfront funding to small producer organisations in order to ensure they have the funds necessary to carry out their functions at an early stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20277/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I recently launched the Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations (ESSPO) Scheme which aims to support the formation and establishment of Producer Organisations (POs). The ESSPO Scheme is a multi-annual measure under the CAP Strategic Plan which will support groups of producers to form recognised POs across the following seven sectors – beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables.

The ESSPO Scheme will support POs over their first three years after recognition. During that period, grant funding - up to a maximum of €10,000 annually - will be available to provide partial compensation for PO administrative costs such as the engagement of administrative human resources and the purchase of relevant technology. A separate grant of up to €3,000 per PO will be available to cover the costs of engaging approved facilitators for legal and business advice on group formation and the submission of an application for recognition.

The administrative grant aid will be paid in arrears in periodic instalments based on the date on which the PO was officially recognised by my Department. The administrative function support is intended to provide a contribution to vouched eligible expenditure incurred in the early stages of PO development. Advisory grant aid amounting to 80% of the total fee can be claimed upon submission of an application for PO recognition with the balancing amount paid once the PO has been formally recognised. For audit purposes, all grant aid must be paid in respect of incurred, invoiced and valid expenditure.

In order to be officially recognised by my Department and eligible for specified grant aid, prospective POs must satisfy a number of eligibility requirements. Further information on PO eligibility criteria, grant supports and the application process can be found in the scheme terms and conditions document published on my Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/early-stage-support-for-producer-organisations-scheme/