Public Procurement Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Ceisteanna (349)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

349. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 25 November 2020, if further details on the awarding of two contracts for a social farming network and a programme for nascent rural female entrepreneurial development will be provided in particular the value of these contract works; and the number of female entrepreneurs awarded funding with regard to the latter contract. [10786/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following a competitive public procurement procedure for a Social Farming Network, a contract has been awarded to Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG to continue to develop the national Social Farming Network known as “Social Farming Ireland”. Funding of €400,000 was provided in 2020 towards this contract.

Following a competitive public procurement procedure for a Programme for Nascent Rural Female Entrepreneurial Development, Fitzsimons Consulting was awarded funding of €198,450 (excluding VAT) in 2020 to run the ACORNS programme (Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups). Over 200 entrepreneurs in rural Ireland are actively involved in the programme; 55 new participants are currently taking part in the Acorns 6 programme and ongoing support is also being provided to 146 previous participants.