Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Reports.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

29 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Women in Agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13979/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The report of the Advisory Committee on the Role Of Women in Agriculture published in September 2000 contains 36 recommendations, covering a broad area, which includes education and training, information technology and social inclusion.

Some 21 of these recommendations have been identified as falling within the remit of my Department and the remaining recommendations are being examined by other relevant Departments.

Recommendations in the report have since been incorporated into the Draft National Plan for Women currently being sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

In pursuit of individual recommendations my Department co-ordinated an interdepartmental group who examined the matter of PRSI for farm spouses. This group reported in February 2002 and possible options to resolve the issue have been notified to farming organisations.

At a practical level my Department has provided funding under the Leader National Rural Development Programme to grant aid the Network of Women in Agriculture, which is being promoted by Macra na Feirme through a series of nation-wide public meetings.

The Leader programmes have identified sustainable income earning and job creating projects for women as priority for grant aid.

Teagasc with the assistance of the Information Society Fund has developed on-line curriculum and resource material for farmer IT training. The project was instigated in order to address the specific needs of farmers in relation to IT training which was identified by the advisory committee.

As indicated in the Programme for Government the recommendations in the Report of the Advisory Committee on the Role of Women in Agriculture will continue to be pursued.