Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grants available to farmers under the areas of agri-environment, non-food crops and agri-food; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40712/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In the case of on-farm investments, grants are available to eligible farmers under my Department's Farm Waste Management Scheme, Dairy Hygiene Scheme, Alternative Enterprises Scheme, Pig Welfare Scheme and Pilot Waste Processing Facilities Scheme.

REPS 3 closed to new applications on 13 October 2006 to allow all applications on hand to be processed before the end of the year. It is proposed to introduce a REPS 4 scheme early in 2007.

Under the Forestry Grant and Premium Scheme, grants are available to cover 100% of planting costs, as well as a 20 year tax free premium for farmers (15 years for non farmers) of up to €500 per hectare, depending on the species planted. Supports are also available for grant aided forests in the form of grants for road construction, woodland improvement (pruning and shaping) and forest reconstitution.

Aid is provided for Energy Crops, at a rate of €45.00 per hectare, in respect of products considered as bio-fuels. The aid, which is payable in addition to the Single Payment, is granted in respect of areas where production is covered by a contract between the farmer and a processor, except in the case of processing undertaken by the farmer on his/her holding. Aid may also be provided for the use of set-aside land for the production of raw materials not intended primarily for human or animal consumption. Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture sector provides grant aid of 35% of eligible investment for non-food crops.

Under the National Development Programme 2000-2006 my Department operates a competitive 'near farm' capital investment scheme of aid for the marketing and processing of certain agricultural products. Following a series of general and targeted calls for applications all funding provided for the Scheme has been allocated.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides grant aid of 35% for products in the agri-food area. The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Potato Sector (seed potatoes) provides grant assistance of 35% to seed potato producers towards the capital cost of equipment and facilities for the production and storage of seed potatoes. Growers of fruit and vegetables who form a Producer Organisation (PO) with the objective of improving product quality and concentrating supply can benefit from EU aid payable for operational programmes implemented by the PO.

There are grants available to certain poultry producers but only in respect of certain actions they took to cut back on production in the period October 2005 to April 2006.

Full details of all schemes operated by my Department are contained in the Department's publication "Schemes and Services".