Vol. 510 No. 3
184 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Forbartha Tuaithe ag cur san áireamh gur fhás méid na talún atá faoi fheirmeoireacht orgánach ó 5,459.66 heicteár ag deire adh 1993 go dtí 23,591.47 heicteár ag deireadh 1997, conas atá foinsí, áiseanna, líon na foirne agus na gcigirí orgánacha ag dul i méid ina Roinn féin chun cabhrú leis an mborradh seo; agus chun é a chur chun cinn. [20366/99]
My Department has approved three organic bodies namely Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, Organic Trust Limited and Demeter Standards Limited to operate the licensing and inspection system for organic producers. The approved bodies are monitored by officials from the Department and the resources made available are adequate. Should the number of approved bodies increase it would be necessary to review the resources available to ensure continued monitoring of the bodies to acceptable standards. The Department requires that persons proposed for appointment as inspectors are suitably qualified whilst the number of inspectors to be employed is a matter for each approved body to determine.
Support to the organic farm sector is provided in a number of different ways. Financial support is provided under the rural environment protection scheme and the scheme of grant aid under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry 1994-99.
Payments in excess of £3 million have been made to date to organic producers under the REP scheme and a total of almost £225,000.00 has been paid under the organic grant scheme of the operational programme. Grants under the operational programme are projected to be in the order of £170,000.00 for 1999.
My Department also provides annual funding to the three private organic inspection bodies, Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, Organic Trust Limited and Demeter Standards Limited, and maintains a register of genuine organic producers licensed by the three organic inspection bodies. The number of producers on the register is in excess of 800.
For the years 1994 to 1996, total funding of £10,000 was provided each year and this was increased to £20,000 in 1997 and in 1998. Provision has been made for a substantial increase for the current year. Payment to each body is made in proportion to the number of inspections carried out. I believe that the measures which I have outlined have encouraged more farmers to convert to organic farming practices and assisted the marketing of organic produce. I expect that the demand for organically produced food will continue to grow in the future and I am confident that with the supports available Irish producers will be well placed to meet the increasing demand.
