James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a hardship fund for those who suffered significant damage to glasshouses during recent storms but do not plan to rebuild; if the environmental benefits of bringing forward a compensation scheme to facilitate the removal of broken glass on the ground has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22007/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the very severe impact that storm Emma had on the Horticultural Sector and in particular on soft fruit and amenity plant producers.

As an exceptional measure in response to the storm, I directed my officials to re-open the 2018 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. This competitive grant aid scheme supports capital investments in specialised horticultural equipment and buildings that contribute to at least one of the scheme’s four objectives namely to: improve the quality of output, facilitate environmentally friendly practices, improve working conditions and promote diversification of production. The grant aid covers all areas of the horticultural industry; field vegetables, mushrooms, protected crops, nursery crops, soft fruit/apples, cut foliage, Christmas trees, bulbs and bee-keeping.

The re-opening of this scheme was targeted towards the soft fruit and amenity plant sectors in particular and approvals will be limited to growers that are proposing investments in response to damage caused by Storm Emma. This targeted measure gives these growers a window of opportunity to apply for grant aid to assist their business to recover from the effects of the storm.

The closing date for applications under the targeted re-opening of the Scheme was Friday 27 April. A total 12 applications were received by the closing date and approvals will issue shortly to successful applicants.

Notwithstanding the challenge for those that do not plan to rebuild, the priority following the storm was to restore the means of production. Accordingly, grant aid was made available only for works associated with construction or investment in replacement equipment. This has been provided for through the re-opening of the 2018 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector and there are no plans to facilitate a compensation scheme to facilitate the removal of broken glass.