James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a hardship fund for those who suffered significant damage to glasshouses during recent storms but do not plan to rebuild; if the environmental benefits of bringing forward a compensation scheme to facilitate the removal of broken glass on the ground has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23783/18]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister his plans to introduce a hardship fund for those who suffered significant damage to glasshouses during the recent storm but do not plan to rebuild and if the environmental benefits of bringing forward a compensation scheme to facilitate the removal of broken glass on the ground have been considered in regard to this area. It is about those who do not intend to rebuild.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the very severe impact that Storm Emma had on the horticultural sector and in particular on soft fruit and amenity plant producers. Indeed, I visited some of them.

As an exceptional measure in response to the storm, I directed my officials to reopen the 2018 scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector. This competitive grant aid scheme supports capital investments in specialised horticultural equipment and buildings that contribute to at least one of the scheme’s four objectives, namely, to improve the quality of output, facilitate environmentally friendly practices, improve working conditions and promote diversification of production. The grant aid covers all areas of the horticultural industry: field vegetables, mushrooms, protected crops, nursery crops, soft fruit, apples, cut foliage, Christmas trees, bulbs and bee-keeping.

The reopening of the scheme was targeted at the soft fruit and amenity plant sectors, in particular, and approvals are limited to growers who are proposing investments in response to damage caused by Storm Emma. This targeted measure has given these growers a window of opportunity to apply for grant aid to assist their businesses to recover from the effects of the storm.

The closing date for applications in the targeted reopening of the scheme was 27 April. A total 12 applications were received by the closing date. At this stage approvals have issued to the majority of the successful applicants, with the remaining approvals expected to issue very shortly as outstanding issues are resolved.

Notwithstanding the challenges for those who do not plan to rebuild, the priority following the storm was to restore production capacity. Accordingly, grant aid was made available only for works associated with construction or investment in response to the storm. This has been provided for through the reopening of the scheme.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My question is about a niche issue, a compensation scheme for fruit growers who suffered damage as a result of Storm Emma and who do not intend to rebuild. First, I welcome the announcement of the reopening of the 2018 grants scheme and acknowledge and welcome the Minister's and the Minister of State's engagement on the issue. The engagement was real and positive and there was a positive and significant outcome. However, a small number of fruit growers - it is a low single digit - are not in a position to avail of the scheme. They are either not in a financial position to rebuild or at a stage of their lives where they are unable to rebuild. What I am seeking is not so much a compensation scheme as some type of aid scheme. One farmer has two acres of glass on the ground. The metal can be taken away cost free by one of the metal collectors, but he has been quoted a price of €30 per tonne for collecting the glass. There are approximately 60 tonnes of shattered glass per acre; therefore, for two acres the price works out at €3,500 to €4,000. That does not include the cost of taking the glass off the ground and possibly having to remove a layer of topsoil. As I said, it involves a very small number of fruit growers and a low cost issue. It is also an environmental issue. The growers are not seeking to benefit from it but simply to be facilitated in removing the glass.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Deputy's acknowledgement of the immediate engagement. In fact, most of the people who it was believed had been affected were contacted directly by officials of the Department before they contacted it. We travelled and met a group of them in the Deputy's constituency where we saw horrendous damage which was frightening. Some of the older structures were not insurable. The newer ones were, but a significant number were not. The scheme was an immediate response. What we were asked to do was to allow people to get back into production. It depended on whether it concerned soft fruit or an amenity. There are two timescales for them and we responded. The area to which the Deputy referred may be a niche market and small, but, quite honestly, I do not believe the scheme is in any way able to address it. It is not designed in that way and never was. It is flexible in many ways, but it cannot address that particular cohort.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, I acknowledge the involvement of the Minister, the Department and Teagasc in addressing the concerns expressed. I appreciate that the scheme does not suit this small number of fruit growers, but there have been aid schemes in the past. I believe there is an exemption of up to €15,000 over three years under EU regulations. Could a small scheme be considered for something like that?

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will not give false hope. I do not believe we can do it in the Department.