Gerry Reynolds
Question:257 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive a REP scheme premium payment. [1040/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Payment issued to the person named on 9 January 2002.
John Moloney
Question:258 Mr. Moloney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a payment was not made to a person (details supplied). [1041/02]
My Department has taken the view that the REPS application from the person named and the separate REPS application from her husband cannot both be justified. The person named has been informed of this finding and advised that a joint application would be acceptable. She has chosen not to avail of this course of action and has asked the Ombudsman to examine the case. The outcome of the Ombudsman's examination is awaited.
Conor Lenihan
Question:259 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the effectiveness of the existing scheme of horticulture grants; if he is satisfied with the uptake; his proposals for improvement in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1042/02]
Conor Lenihan
Question:260 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the details of the latest round of horticultural grants in terms of recipients and amounts awarded to them; the average size of grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1043/02]
Conor Lenihan
Question:261 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when details of the next round of horticultural grants will be made available and applications sought; if the total amount for grant assistance will be increased from current levels; if the number of grants will be increased; the average size of grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1044/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 261, inclusive, together.
The scheme of investment aid for the commercial horticulture sector, operated under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, provides for aid of more than 19 million over the period of the scheme. This will greatly assist producers in the horticulture sector, including beekeepers, to upgrade their equipment and facilities and help them meet market demands.
A total of 312 applications were received in the first round of the scheme which closed on 4 May 2001. Of these 263 have been approved to date, for grant aid in respect of projects with completion dates up to the end of June 2002. The aim in selecting projects for grant approval has been to meet sectoral and producer priorities in an equitable and transparent way. Up to the end of December 2001, 26 applications for payment were processed and a total of approximately 575,000 or an average of 22,000 each was paid. The level of individual grant varies considerably because of the diverse nature of the sector.
On the basis of the very satisfactory uptake to date, I am satisfied that the scheme will prove to be effective and, therefore, I have no plans to change it at this stage. The position will be reviewed at the end of the current round which finishes at the end of June 2002. Following that review the new round will be announced, probably in early autumn 2002.
Gerry Reynolds
Question:262 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has not received a cattle area based headage payment for 2001. [1046/02]
The 2001 area aid application for the person named has now been fully processed and payment due under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme will issue within the next week.