Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 322: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for the development and expansion of the fruit and vegetable industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4195/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has contributed significantly to the support of the horticulture industry through its grant aid scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector under the National Development plan 2007-2013. The scheme assists capital investment on farms to promote the specialisation and diversification of on- farm activities, improve the quality of products and facilitate environmentally friendly practices and improve working conditions on farms. The scheme has made an immense contribution to the growth and development of the horticulture sector across all areas- protected crops, field vegetables, nursery crops, mushrooms, soft fruit, apples and beekeeping.

Under the first two rounds of the scheme a total of €8m was paid out to 220 producers supporting investment of €20m. This year I am providing a further grant package of €4m which will fund projects to the investment value of some €10m. Indeed under the previous scheme 2000-2006 grant aid amounting to €18.5m was paid to 656 producers which supported investment of €53m.

Further aid for the horticulture sector is also available under the Capital Investment Scheme for the Marketing and Processing of Agricultural Products and in addition producers can also benefit from EU aid under the Producer Organisation (PO) Scheme.