Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2016
607. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason beef farmers who exclusively finish Friesian cattle are being excluded from payment under the knowledge transfer group and due to the abolition of quotas, which, if it continues, is set to become a serious problem in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19689/16]
View answerKnowledge Transfer Groups are currently being rolled out as part of the range of supports and measures contained in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020. All RDP schemes are required to incorporate eligibility and selection criteria to ensure equitable treatment of applicants, better use of financial resources and targeting of measures in accordance with the European Union priorities for rural development.
The eligibility requirements for beef Knowledge Transfer Groups were developed in order to ensure access for beef farmers to this important scheme. I asked my officials to review these requirements in light of the position of beef farmers finishing Friesian cattle. I can confirm that on foot of this review, the Scheme has been amended to allow for access for such farmers.
