Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1242. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended on the scheme of investment aid for commercial horticulture in 2016; and the 2017 budget allocation. [36707/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has contributed significantly to the support of the Horticulture sector through its grant aid Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector.  In 2016, €3.865 million in grant aid was paid to approved horticultural applicants which supported some €9.7 million in investment into the Horticulture industry.

Under the 2017 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector, the budget has been increased to €5 million. I have also provided a commitment to ensure that payments under this scheme are made as early as possible.

The scheme assists capital investments 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.