Vol. 501 No. 5
64 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a need to have a national training scheme for farriers; if grant aid or other assistance will be provided to set up this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6540/99]
I am very much aware of the need to have a national training scheme for farriers established. I sought and was successful in getting £200,000 in EU funding under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry towards the development of farriery training in Ireland over the period 1994-99.
The first and most favoured option for the use of these funds is to allocate the moneys available to an organisation or organisations to assist them in establishing a formal farriery training course which would be independently certified, lead to recognised qualifications and command the general support of the industry.
The current position is that two organisations, namely, the Racing Apprentice Centre of Education, RACE, and the Irish Masters Farriers Association, IMFA, have reached a working agreement on a project which includes the establishment of a farriery school at the grounds of RACE and the setting up of a register of farriers. This project will exhaust all available funds.
Plans have been completed and RACE is in the process of seeking planning permission for the building. When functional, most likely in September 1999, the operation will be run by a new farriery authority which will be made up of representatives of the industry including RACE and the IMFA.
With regard to the day to day running costs of the school, various bodies in the industry have already given commitments of financial support.
