Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied that the levels of support for the horticulture industry are adequate to allow it to compete with imported products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40532/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The main fruit imports from outside the EU are bananas and the main imports from other EU Member States are apples and pears. The main vegetable imports from both outside the EU and from other Member States are onions, shallots, garlic and leeks. Total imports of fruit and vegetables were valued at €671m in 2005 and our exports in the same period were valued at €241.4m.

My Department has contributed significantly to the support of the horticulture industry through its grant aid schemes under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. These schemes have been a catalyst for investment and growth and have assisted producers to upgrade or develop new production facilities and have also enabled commercial enterprises to improve marketing and processing facilities.

The NDP Scheme of Investment Aid for the Commercial Horticulture Sector has promoted the specialisation and diversification of on-farm activities, improvement in the quality of products, environmentally friendly practices and improved working conditions on farms. In the period 2000-2005, a total of €13.5m was paid in grants to producers supporting investments of €38.6m. This year a further €7.67m grant package will fund projects to the investment value of €21.91m.

Under my Department's NDP Capital Investment Scheme for the Marketing and Processing of Agricultural Products a total of €10.5m has been awarded in the fruit and vegetable sector to date. Some €7m was awarded in respect of 15 projects in this sector earlier this year.

Fruit and vegetable producers also benefit from EU aid under the Producer Organisation scheme. Some €23.85m has been paid to recognised Producer Organisations in the period 2000-2006. The development of Producer Organisations under EU Regulations has made a very important contribution to the development of the sector as it enables producers to benefit from their combined strength in the production and marketing of their product.