Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2018
300. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a knowledge transfer payment for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if payment will be processed in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14684/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraKnowledge Transfer (KT) is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves formation and administration of KT groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors.
The person named is a participant of the KT Beef Programme and as outlined he attended four of the five meetings held by the Facilitator of his group. However, in order to comply with the requirements of Year 1 of the Programme, it was also open for farmers to attend an approved KT National Event such as a farm walk in lieu of one of the required five meetings. There were approximately 180 of such events last year throughout the country with approximately 80 of these approved for the KT Beef Programme. These events have proved very useful for farmers in KT Groups to date.
As the person named did not avail of the option to attend a KT National Event and did not attend a fifth meeting of his KT Group he is due a reduced payment in respect of his participation under the programme. This reduced payment will, as required under the governing EU Regulation, issue via his KT Facilitator shortly.
