Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2010
51 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the plans he has to deal with hardship installation cases locked out of the scheme in budget 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/10]
View answerThe Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008 against the background of the deterioration in the national finances. 941 applications for grant-aid were received by my Department under the Scheme prior to its suspension and these applications are being processed to payment stage as the claims are approved. An allocation of €4.5 million has been provided in this year's Estimates to meet the financial commitment involved in processing applications under the Scheme and the preceding installation aid schemes. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to new applicants. If and when the Scheme is reopened, I will endeavour to ensure that priority is given to those persons who were intending to apply for grant-aid under the Scheme prior to its suspension.
