Vol. 435 No. 1
71 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if there has been a decrease in the number of beekeepers in recent years; the present rate of grant to the Beekeepers' Association; the plans, if any, he has to increase the rate of grant; and if he will make a statement on the incentives which may be introduced to promote this industry.
Information available to my Department shows no decrease in the production of honey or the number of beekeepers in recent years. The annual grant to the Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations was increased from £1,000 to £2,000 in 1993. There are no funds at my disposal to enable me to increase the grant to the federation further or to introduce incentives to promote the industry.
