Vol. 512 No. 5
14 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the proposals, if any, he has to make a public response to the submission by the three approved organic certification bodies, Blueprint for the Development of the Organic Sector in Ireland 2000 - 2006; and the proposals he is prepared to implement. [26327/99]
My Department provides support to the organic farm sector under the rural environment protection scheme and the scheme of grant aid under the operational programme for agriculture, rural development and forestry.
The three approved organic certification bodies, Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, Organic Trust and Demeter Standards submitted a blueprint for the development of the organic sector in Ireland 2000-2006 in August 1999. Further to receipt of this document, a meeting was arranged with the three bodies at which discussions took place on their recommendations.
In the national development plan, £6 million has been provided under the regional programmes to cater for the development of the organic sector. The current situation is that proposals are being drafted for the organic sector which will be included in the programmes for the Border, midland and western region and southern and eastern . The details have still to be finalised and the expectation is that the regional programmes will be submitted to the European Commission early in the new year.
