Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the assistance her Department provides to apple growers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40546/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Apple production, with 46 growers at the last census in 2002, represents a small but important sector within our horticultural industry. My Department has contributed to the support of those growers through its grant aid schemes under the National Development Plan. The NDP Scheme of Investment Aid for the Commercial Horticulture Sector has supported apple producers with aid for on-farm investment in specialist plant and equipment. In the period 2000-2006, aid amounting to €709,642 has been approved under this Scheme in respect of investments of over €2 million. In the same period €133,385 was paid under the NDP Capital Investment Scheme for Marketing and Processing to aid investments of €333,463 in a cold store and equipment.

The Producer Organisation Scheme is also available as a means of drawing down funding for apple production. The key aim of the PO scheme is to improve product quality and promote the concentration of supply which in turn helps to reduce production costs and stabilise producer prices.