Speaking at Loch Aedín Social Farm, Minister Creed said: “The concept of social farming – giving people who are availing of a range of health service supports the opportunity to participate in farming or horticulture activities in their local area – fosters inclusion. For participating farm families and local communities, social farming has proved a very worthwhile and satisfying activity which contributes to community development.

“For these reasons, I want to ensure that this concept is developed and encouraged through the Social Farming Network.”

The Minister continued: “The ambition is to grow a network for social farming for Ireland, with its national support office based in Drumshanbo co-ordinating four regional hubs which will assist with the promotion and delivery of social farming in Ireland in support of both participants and farmers.”

The Department provided initial funding of €400,000 last year for the establishment of the Social Farming Network across Ireland and has recently extended the contract for a further 12-month period.

Minister Creed said: “I am delighted to announce that support from my Department will continue for the Social Farming Network in 2017, with funding of €350,000 that will ensure progression for the project as it beds down and becomes self-sustaining.”

The Department will provide funding totalling €720,000 in 2017 for a range of social farming initiatives.

KT deadline extension

Of the 20,000 farmers in the Knowledge Transfer (KT) programme, 13,400 still have to submit a farm improvement plan to comply with the terms of the scheme. The deadline for submission of these plans has been extended to 21 August 2017 to allow these participants more time to submit the required data.

Approximately 6,200 plans have been submitted to date, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, 6,600 animal health measures, which help make up the farm improvement plan, have been completed.