Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will cater for farmers who have spent thousands of euros applying for planning permission only to discover that the farm improvement scheme has been closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29858/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was suspended on 31 October 2007 as the applications received had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I clearly stated, at the time of the launch of the Scheme, that it would be suspended when the financial ceiling provided for the Scheme had been reached and this was also explicitly provided for in its terms and conditions. I have no plans to reopen the Scheme for new applications prior to the review in 2008 of the terms of Towards 2016 as provided for in that agreement.