Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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660. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the requirement will be relaxed that needs planning permission granted rather than pending before submitting an application under the scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector due to the effects of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43094/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the ongoing need for investment in the horticulture sector and my Department provides direct support through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. This Scheme is operated on a competitive application basis. To ensure that funding can be drawn down by horticultural producers in 2021, the closing date of the scheme for applications is December 18^th2020.

To ensure maximum expenditure of budgetary allocations, one of the key requirements for valid applications is that for projects requiring planning permission, full planning approval must be in place at the application stage. This condition is necessary since planning permission may or may not be ultimately granted for a project and applies under other schemes where planning permission is required such as TAMS.