Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
490. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided for an event (details supplied) in County Cork that is unable to affiliate to a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28793/18]
View answerIn December 2017, I announced once-off financial support of €812,000 for Agricultural Shows to alleviate financial difficulties suffered by a number of these shows in recent years, primarily due to adverse weather conditions.
The allocation was made in coordination with the Irish Shows Association (ISA) and will result in each of approximately 120 shows under the umbrella of the ISA in the Republic of Ireland receiving assistance of between €3,500 and €7,000, depending on the size of the show.
The ISA is the umbrella organisation for Agricultural Shows in Ireland and membership of the Association is open to all recognised Agricultural Show Societies. On that basis, I considered that distributing the funding through the Association was the most effective way to support the shows and I have no plans to change that approach.
