Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
850. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the scheme to provide marts with up to €5,000 to assist with the installation of online bidding equipment is operational; the number of marts that have applied for support under the proposed scheme; the number of applications that have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4586/22]
View answerOn 1st March 2021, I announced the Marts ICT Infrastructure Scheme 2021. Under the Scheme, livestock marts could apply to the Department for a grant of a maximum of €5,000 to cover 50% of expenditure by a mart on ICT infrastructure. The expenditure must have occurred after the opening date, 1st March 2021. Expenditure prior to this was ineligible. The closing date for receipt of applications was 15th November 2021.
My Department received 61 applications and these have been processed, equating to an average payment of €3,961 per Mart.
Marts played a pivotal role in keeping the wheels of Agriculture turning while ensuring farming communities remained safe during COVID 19. I commend mart managers, their staff and customers for playing a blinder.
