Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the level of funding provided for the Farm Improvement Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016; and the expected applicants that will be approved a grant from this level of funding. [19738/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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â'¬79 million was provided under the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016, for the operation of the Farm Improvement Scheme. 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 31 October 2007. To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm Improvement Scheme. The remaining applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all applications for the Farm Improvement Scheme received by his Department prior to 31 October 2007 have been processed and approved for payment; and if he will provide statistical details in this regard. [19739/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows:

To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme. The remaining applications are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for the Farm Improvement Scheme received in his Department prior to 31 October 2007; the number of those applications that were sanctioned funding giving details on a county basis. [19740/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows:

To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme. The remaining applications are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in relation to the applicants for the Farm Improvement Scheme who submitted their applications prior to 31 October 2007 but did not receive funding due to budgetary constraints, there are proposals to include these applicants in any future scheme; and if they will get priority treatment in view of the fact that their applications were submitted but the funding ran out. [19741/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme. These applications are currently being processed within my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the options available to farmers for capital investment following the suspension of the Farm Improvement Scheme; his plans to introduce a new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19742/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was suspended for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to further applications.