Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of applications she has received for the new capital grant towards the dairy processing industry; if she is satisfied with the uptake; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40517/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has provided a fund of €100 million to assist the investment of some €300 million in total in the dairy processing sector over the next three years. The objective of the Dairy Processing Investment Fund is to support capital investment related to the processing of dairy products. The high level of grant assistance will stimulate the necessary private sector investment to ensure the long term competitiveness and viability of the dairy industry in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland will manage the scheme and implement the Fund. The closing date for the Fund was Thursday 23 November and I have been informed by Enterprise Ireland that the Fund was oversubscribed. Enterprise Ireland will play a key role, together with my Department, in the evaluation of the suitability of investment projects submitted for grant assistance.