Under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of certain agricultural products, up to 40% grant aid may be awarded for capital projects intended to improve the marketing and processing of products in the horticulture, potatoes, grain, egg packing and livestock, including marts, sectors. Awards are made following evaluation and taking account of the funding available. In the case of marts, grant assistance is geared towards the improvement of marketing facilities, with grant aid being prioritised towards rationalisation and relocation of existing enterprises.
Under the current call for proposals eight applications, seeking grant aid in the region of €6 million, have been received in respect of the following livestock marts: Castlerea Co-Op, Castlerea, County Roscommon; Connacht Gold Co-Op, Balla, County Mayo; Cork Co-Op, Cahir, County Tipperary; Cork Co-Op, Dungarvan, County Waterford; Cork Co-Op, Macroom, County Cork; Inishowen Co-Op, County Donegal; Kilkenny Co-Op Livestock Market Limited; Listowel Livestock Mart, Listowel, County Kerry. These applications are being evaluated and decisions will be made in the coming weeks in respect of those applications where all the necessary planning approvals have been obtained.
As the problem on the farm is a complex one, the approach has been to investigate as many factors as possible in a methodical, scientific way so that the most appropriate course of action can be pursued to try to identify the underlying cause. This work is ongoing and is being progressed as quickly as possible. The farmer concerned has been very much involved in all aspects of this investigation and has been kept fully informed at all times. My Department does not operate any scheme to alleviate hardship in circumstances such as are being encountered in this case. I am satisfied that this matter is being examined by those persons, within and outside my Department best qualified to carry out this work and I look forward to the result of that examination.