Vol. 548 No. 4
37 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the measures introduced and the progress to date in the implementation of the national development plan programme for the development of the organic sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4273/02]
Financial support for the development of the organic sector is available through the rural environment protection scheme and the scheme of grant aid for the development of the organic sector, which was approved under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
Under the rural environment protection scheme, financial support for organic producers is provided under a supplementary measure for organic farming. The objective of this measure is to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food. An organic farmer with 40 hectares in REPS can receive up to €13,280 a year, which includes payment of the basic measure, while a holding is in conversion to full organic status. When full organic status is obtained, such a farmer may receive up to €9,680 which also includes payment of the basic measure. In the first REP scheme, which had some 45,500 active participants when it closed to new applications at the end of 1999, 821 availed of the organic supplementary measure receiving over €28 million in REPS payments. Of the 14,397 applicants who have been admitted to the new REP scheme, 186 farmers have opted for the organic supplementary measure. I am hopeful that the take-up will considerably surpass the levels in the first REP scheme as farmers become aware of the commercial opportunities that organic farming offers.
