Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the level of funding available under the farm improvement scheme has been reached; and when applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications. [15054/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I announced the suspension of the Scheme on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. I indicated, at the time of its launch, that the Scheme would be terminated when this financial ceiling had been reached and this was also specifically provided for in the terms and conditions of the Scheme. A total of approximately 6,000 applications have been approved to date. In excess of twelve thousand applications were lodged.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will provide a detailed report on the expenditure under the farm improvement scheme; the plans she has in place to continue with this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15082/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79m as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. An allocation of €15m has been made available under the 2008 Estimates for the Scheme. To date this year, €0.598m has been paid out in grant payments under the Scheme. €0.014m was paid out under the Scheme in 2007. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to further applications.