On-farm Investment Schemes.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 May 2008

Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Questions (291, 292, 293, 294, 295)

Michael Ring

Question:

368 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the level of funding provided for the Farm Improvement Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016; and the expected applicants that will be approved a grant from this level of funding. [19738/08]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

€79 million was provided under the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016, for the operation of the Farm Improvement Scheme. 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 31 October 2007. To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm Improvement Scheme. The remaining applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available.

Michael Ring

Question:

369 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all applications for the Farm Improvement Scheme received by his Department prior to 31 October 2007 have been processed and approved for payment; and if he will provide statistical details in this regard. [19739/08]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows:

County	Number of Applications
Carlow	176
Cavan	675
Clare	510
Cork	1,863
Donegal	931
Dublin	29
Galway	850
Kerry	875
Kildare	133
Kilkenny	519
Laois	336
Leitrim	375
Limerick	368
Longford	218
Louth	209
Mayo	740
Meath	272
Monaghan	362
Offaly	282
Roscommon	484
Sligo	255
Tipperary	895
Waterford	487
Westmeath	274
Wexford	295
Wicklow	262
Total	12,675

To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme. The remaining applications are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Michael Ring

Question:

370 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for the Farm Improvement Scheme received in his Department prior to 31 October 2007; the number of those applications that were sanctioned funding giving details on a county basis. [19740/08]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows:

County	Number of Applications
Carlow	176
Cavan	675
Clare	510
Cork	1,863
Donegal	931
Dublin	29
Galway	850
Kerry	875
Kildare	133
Kilkenny	519
Laois	336
Leitrim	375
Limerick	368
Longford	218
Louth	209
Mayo	740
Meath	272
Monaghan	362
Offaly	282
Roscommon	484
Sligo	255
Tipperary	895
Waterford	487
Westmeath	274
Wexford	295
Wicklow	262
Total	12,675

To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme. The remaining applications are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Michael Ring

Question:

371 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in relation to the applicants for the Farm Improvement Scheme who submitted their applications prior to 31 October 2007 but did not receive funding due to budgetary constraints, there are proposals to include these applicants in any future scheme; and if they will get priority treatment in view of the fact that their applications were submitted but the funding ran out. [19741/08]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme. These applications are currently being processed within my Department up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme.

Michael Ring

Question:

372 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the options available to farmers for capital investment following the suspension of the Farm Improvement Scheme; his plans to introduce a new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19742/08]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

The Farm Improvement Scheme was suspended for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to further applications.

Question No. 373 withdrawn.