Vol. 519 No. 4
50 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will consider holding regular information clinics nationwide, similar to the Agenda 2000 clinics, to assist farmers in completing their application forms or resolving area aid difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13789/00]
Officials of my Department have become increasingly involved in participating in information meetings and seminars, in conjunction with the farming organisations, to improve farmer awareness and understanding of scheme requirements. This process will be continued and developed further as the remit of providing advisory, educational and training services to farmers is of particular importance.
The recent Agenda 2000 seminars proved very successful, combining as they did the regulatory function of my Department and the advisory service of Teagasc. There was unprecedented attendance at each seminar, and the resulting feedback was very positive. It is my intention to make such seminars an annual event and to explore the possibility of Teagasc taking an even more active role in advising farmers in relation to scheme requirements. Teagasc is now also placing a strong emphasis on the education and dissemination of information to farmers on breeding, feeding, husbandry and general farm management practices in these areas and is doing this very effectively through displays, demonstrations and seminars during open days on the subject such as the recent very successful one held at the Teagasc centre in Grange.
