Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for the farm improvement scheme for 2007; the time-frame in which she expects these applications to be expedited; and if the programme will continue in 2008. [27087/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 and funding of €79 million for the Scheme was agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, as part of an overall programme of investment in the agri-food sector.

I announced last week that as applications had reached the level of funding available for the Scheme, the Scheme was closed to new applications for now. Over 12,600 applications were received up to the closing date of the Scheme and my Department will process these applications up to the level of funding available. Payment of grant-aid will issue in respect of all approved projects in due course when the work involved has been completed and I expect that a substantial number of payments will therefore issue to farmers under the Scheme in 2008.