Vol. 443 No. 8
85 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the funding provided to the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association in each of the years 1991 to 1993; the proposals, if any, he has to increase this funding for 1994 and thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department made the following payments to IOFGA towards their operating costs in the years in question: 1991, £75,500; 1992, £64,481; 1993, £25,000. The purpose of these payments was to assist IOFGA in its start-up phase. As already indicated to IOFGA, I have no proposals to make such a payment in 1994.
My Department also made a payment of £9,800 to IOFGA in 1993 as a contribution towards EU inspections and will continue to make contributions to each of the approved inspection bodies, including IOFGA, for inspection work carried out under EU regulations.
I expect to have funds available, later this year, for the development of the organic sector following approval of the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry by the European Commission. There will be consultation, in due course, with the various organic bodies regarding the projects to be funded.
