Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount paid out to the horticulture sector under the investment aid grant scheme under the national development plan; the number of payments issued to date; the highest amount of a single payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40648/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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 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. The scheme has made an immense contribution to the growth and development of the horticulture sector across all areas- protected crops, field vegetables, mushrooms, nursery crops, soft fruit, apples, cut foliage and beekeeping.

Under the first two rounds of the scheme, a total of €8,254,321 was paid out to 222 producers in 2008 and 2009 which supported investment of €20.6M. The highest amount paid to an individual applicant was €404,640. This year a grant package of €3.8M is available to 107 horticulture producers which will fund projects to the investment value of €9.5M.