The person in question applied for assistance under the scheme of grant-aid for investment in commercial horticulture which has a budget of approximately £600,000 per annum. One of the conditions attached to this scheme is that only investments which do not qualify for assistance under another scheme are eligible. Most of the investment being undertaken in the case in question qualifies for assistance under the farm improvement programme. The position has been explained to the person in question by staff of my Department on a number of occasions.
While the farm improvement programme was suspended on 8 December 1994 it was re-introduced on 1 November 1995 but limited to horticulture only. The person in question should now make application for assistance under this scheme.
In view of the size of the budget for the commercial horticulture scheme compared with the demand for assistance from it, it is necessary to award grants on a priority basis. A deadline of 31 January 1995 was set for receipt of applications for the first round of grants. A total of 423 applications were received. Each of these applicants had to be visited by an inspector of my Department and an overall assessment of the applications made which of necessity, took some time. One hundred and thirty-five applicants were approved for grant assistance and these were notified in October 1995.