Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
474. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participants in the GLAS scheme will be required to take part in the knowledge transfer programme; if they do participate in the two schemes, if they will be entitled to the full payment under both schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34478/14]
View answerKnowledge Transfer, as proposed in Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme is a scheme that will result in the transfer of expertise to farmers across six different sectors. Participating farmers will attend a minimum number of knowledge exchange meetings and also complete a Farm Improvement Plan in conjunction with a qualified advisor. This is a separate scheme to GLAS and if farmers are involved in both, they will receive the appropriate payment under both. However, there is also a separate requirement under GLAS for all participants to attend dedicated training courses on the various environmental actions laid out in the new GLAS scheme. Participants will receive separate payment for such training, to cover the cost of attendance, and this will be over and above what is paid to them under GLAS itself.
