Vol. 541 No. 3
95 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the supports which are in place to develop organic farming; if he has established targets to develop such farming practices and food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22604/01]
There are two schemes administered by my Department which provide financial support for the development of organic farming in Ireland, namely the rural environment protection scheme – REPS – and the scheme of grant aid for the development of the organic sector, which was approved under the national development plan.
Participants in REPS may avail of a supplementary measure designed to encourage organic producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food. An organic farmer can receive up to £5,702 a year on top of his or her basic REPS payment of up to £4,757 while in conversion to organic farming, and up to £2,867 extra thereafter.
The scheme of grant aid for the development of the organic sector, which was introduced earlier this year, provides grant assistance in respect of investments in equipment and facilities for the production, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products. For on-farm investment projects costing over £2,000, the Department will give 40% grant assistance, up to a maximum of £40,000. For off-farm investment projects costing over £2,000, 40% grant assistance is again available up to a maximum of £200,000.
The closing date for the first tranche of applications was the 29 June 2001 and these applications are currently being evaluated by my Department. The scheme will be advertised again in due course and further applications will be invited.
In line with a recommendation of the agrifood 2010 committee, I have established an organic development committee and asked it to recommend a coherent development strategy to achieve expansion in production, processing and marketing of Irish organic produce and to secure an increased share of the growing national and export markets; and to consider the broad actions necessary for the most advantageous long-term future development of the Irish organic sector while protecting its integrity. I look forward to receiving the committee's recommendations in due course.
