The €100m Knowledge Transfer Programme is included in Ireland's Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020.
I have announced that the original 31 May deadline for completion of Year 1 of the Knowledge Transfer Groups will be extended until 31 July, 2017 to allow facilitators and farmers additional time to complete the requirements of the Knowledge Transfer Programme.
Agricultural consultants acting as Knowledge Transfer Facilitators are paid €500 per group per participant for each year of the three year programme. This payment is based on the time each facilitator spends managing and attending group meetings as well as the time spent completing actions under the Farm Improvement Plan with individual farmers. It also includes a provision for administration work associated with running the group.
As regards Teagasc staffing, the agreed 2015 delegated sanction arrangements for Teagasc provide them with greater flexibility over staff appointments, subject to compliance with multi-annual pay ceilings. The arrangements enable Teagasc to replace staff when they retire and to make up to 90 new permanent appointments in the period to end 2017. While Teagasc must remain within its overall pay budget, the flexibility provided by the new arrangements allows them to fill critical vacancies and to react faster when such vacancies arise in the future. Within the parameters of that overarching policy, the question of allocating more resources to the Knowledge Transfer Programme is an operational matter for Teagasc management.
Officials at my Department acting on reports of difficulties with the online system for the Knowledge Transfer Programme Farm Improvement Plan have conducted a thorough investigation of the issue and have subsequently identified a solution which is currently being implemented.
