Vol. 408 No. 9
12 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in approving grants under the operational programme for rural development for horticulture and potatoes; whether he is in a position now to announce such approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the first round, the closing date for which was 31 March 1991, nearly 500 applications for grant aid for horticulture and potato projects were received. The total proposed investment is approximately £13 million.
The funds available under the operational programme for rural development scheme for horticulture and potato projects amount to £4.2 million for the years 1991 to 1993 inclusive, of which about £1.7 million would be available in 1991. As grants are payable at rates of up to 50 per cent it is clear that not all applications can be accommodated within the funds available.
Applications are being processed by my Department. This may involve, in many cases, visits to individual applicants. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications at the earliest possible date.
When does the Minister of State expect applicants to be informed?
A number of inspectors are at present examining the applications submitted under the headings of potato projects and commercial horticulture and inspections are being carried out. We are anxious that the reports be submitted as quickly as possible to get the scheme under way. I have said on many occasions that one of the priorities of the industry should be to secure investment in potato storage. An Bord Glas clearly identified in their development programme those areas with potential for development and the commercial horticulture grants scheme was specifically designed with these in mind.
That reply was not very illuminating. I had hoped that the Minister of State would have been in a position to indicate that they would be informed in one week, one month or six months. May I ask him if any of the applicants have been notified already? The reason I raise this question is that I understood all the applicants would be told at the one time. I note, however, that some of Deputy Leonard's constituents in County Monaghan have already been given the go ahead to proceed with mushroom projects whereas other applicants in the west and elsewhere have not even had their applications considered. Would the Minister of State care to comment?
Five hundred and six applications have been submitted. It is going to take some time to examine all of them.
That is not my question.
We are anxious that the process be accelerated and that approval be granted as quickly as possible.
A final question from Deputy O'Keeffe.
It would be of help if the Minister of State could indicate whether applicants will be notified in a week, one month or six months. Second, it has been suggested to me that some applicants have already been notified. Would the Minister of State clear the air on that issue? Have some applicants been approved or not?
I am not aware that some applicants have been cleared already——
And the time table?
——but I will have to check this with the administration section. Our priority at this time is to examine the individual projects to see if they are viable and eligible to receive grant aid under the scheme.
A large number of applications have been submitted from County Monaghan but none has been approved as yet.
I have nothing against Monaghan.
