Johnny Brady (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will quantify the benefits to the horticulture, livestock marts and small meat sectors in his pre-Christmas 2008 grant aid announcement. [4926/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2008 I announced details of a grant-aid package of €16.7 million under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products. The grant-aid will benefit 66 enterprises and is expected to contribute to an actual investment on projects in the region of €70 million across the horticulture, livestock marts and small meat sectors.

These investments will help to improve the competitiveness and added-value of agricultural products through improved processing facilities as well as improving storage, handling and marketing facilities at 'near farm' enterprises. The geographic spread of the beneficiaries will generate significant economic activity throughout the country over the next few years and will create significant employment during the construction stage of the new facilities. In addition to improving the competitiveness of Irish agriculture the investments will ensure that the Irish public has on-going access to the freshest, locally grown food in the interests of public health and well-being.

In the Horticulture sector, the grant aid is targeted at 13 projects which are primarily investing in developments required by the multiple retailers, so as to ensure a continued outlet for growers' produce. As well as improving viability and profitability within the sector, the investments will raise quality and environmental standards, develop value added lines, expand markets, improve labour productivity and increase marketable yield.

In the Livestock Marts sector, the 22 investments being supported will impact positively on the environment by providing marts with adequate slurry storage and treatment facilities. In a number of cases the grant aid will assist in improving current procedures within the existing mart premises and contribute to the health status of animals being sold through the marts.

In the Small Meat sector, which includes small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat establishments, 31 projects are being supported which will assist food business operators in the sector to improve efficiency, add quality and value to products, produce new and innovative products and develop new markets.