Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
725. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that has been made available to the collaborative farming partnership fund to date; the number of persons who have availed of it for each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the average amount paid by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48076/21]
View answerMy Department introduced a Support for Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The support will be maintained in the transition period. The grant is aimed at covering part of the legal, advisory and financial services costs incurred in the drawing up of the Farm Partnership Agreement, a prerequisite for any partnership adopting best practice.
The payment will be calculated up to 50% of the vouched (VAT exclusive) cost for each of the legal, advisory and financial services incurred in the drawing up of the Farm Partnership Agreement, up to a maximum payment of €2,500. Payments relating to the most recent tranche will issue from late 2021 to early 2022.
Below are the numbers of scheme participants and overall payments made from 2016 to 2020. In 2021 to date 431 applications have been received.
|
Year |
Applicants (Partnerships) |
Amount paid |
Average Payment € |
|
2020 |
223 |
€ 334,340 |
1,499.28 |
|
2019 |
454 |
€ 596,832 |
1,314.61 |
|
2018 |
130 |
€ 182,174 |
1,401.34 |
|
2017 |
325 |
€ 439,378 |
1,351.93 |
|
2016 |
241 |
€ 333,717 |
1,384.72 |
|
Total |
1,373 |
€ 1,886,441 |
