Vol. 395 No. 7
25 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in respect of the horticultural industry in Fingal, County Dublin, he will report on the conversion grants that are available for natural gas; the conditions for same; and the take-up rate to date.
Grant aid of 35 per cent of the standard cost is available under the farm improvement programme, which is operated pursuant to EEC Regulation 797/85 as amended, for the conversion of heating systems in existing greenhouses to natural gas. Eligibility under the programme is confined to applicants practising farming as their main occupation and with an income less than £12,500 per man work unit. Participants in the programme must follow a formal improvement plan and submit farm accounts.
