Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
532. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to problems with issued knowledge transfer payments, particularly for partnership farms; the steps he will take to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31060/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraKnowledge Transfer (KT) is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves the formation of knowledge transfer groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors. Approximately 19,100 farmer participants are currently registered in KT Groups across the six sectors.
Farmer participants attend group meetings and produce a Farm Improvement Plan in consultation with their KT Facilitator. For each year of the three year programme participants receive a reimbursement in the amount of €750 for a primary sector and €375 for a secondary sector where all requirements of the programme have been met.
In line with commitments under the Farmers' Charter payments to farmers commenced in October, 2017. To date, approximately 18,015 farmers have been paid €11.8m. Work is ongoing to clear the remaining cases to payment stage. These mainly relate to changes of ownership on herds including those where the applicant has moved into or out of a Registered Farm Partnership. The issue arises from the requirement to match data in their Farm Improvement Plan to the individual farmer participant in the Registered Farm Partnerships for payment purposes. This issue is being addressed as a matter of priority, with a view to issuing payment to affected farmers as soon as possible.
