Vol. 553 No. 4
4 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will report on the recommendations of the selection committee in respect of the capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of certain agricultural produces, potatoes, 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14161/02]
Applications for the potato sector under the capital investment scheme for marketing and processing certain agricultural products were considered at a meeting of the selection committee on 20 March. The committee considered all 25 applications received at the meeting, with a grant aid requirement of almost €10 million. The funding available amounted to €2.1 million. In order to allocate the limited funding available, applications were evaluated with reference to viability, target markets, their sectoral and regional impacts, particularly at primary producer level, and the extent to which they may improve the saleability of the primary product. The committee also took into account the significant levels of aid awarded to this sector under previous FEOGA schemes. Having considered all factors and the individual applications, the committee selected seven projects for the award of grant aid. Subsequently, my Department wrote to the unsuccessful applicants under the current tranche to inform them that their applications are being retained. If further funding becomes available, these applications will be considered along with all other eligible applications. While this allows applicants to proceed with work if they so wish, funding available under the scheme is limited and eligibility does not automatically confer entitlement to grant aid.
Who was the seventh successful applicant?
I can read out the list if the Deputy wishes.
Just the names.
I ask Deputy Ryan to resume his seat while the Minister is on his feet.
The successful applicants were as follows: Donegal Potatoes Limited, Meade Potato Company Limited, Peter and Eddie Doyle, Patrick Howard, Meadowfresh Foods and Edward English.
That is only six. Who is the seventh?
John Dockrell of Wexford was successful in the horticulture sector.
I want to know who was the final successful applicant in the potato sector.
As I said, Donegal Potatoes Limited, Meade Potato Company Limited, Peter and Eddie Doyle, Patrick Howard, Meadowfresh Foods and Edward English were successful in the potato sector.
That is only six. The Minister specifically mentioned that the committee selected seven projects.
Yes.
On 18 April, the former Minister of State, Deputy Davern, said that €308,000 was available for a seventh successful applicant in the potato sector and that the money would be paid when planning permission had been received. Who was the seventh applicant?
I do not have the information to hand, but I will make it available to the Deputy before the close of business today.
It is the most relevant point.
Does the Deputy have a question?
Does the Minister stand over a selection committee that has recommended that the sectoral priorities of the scheme he mentioned be broken? The seventh applicant, to whom we have referred, did not submit a planning application until nine days after the decision had been announced. Major questions have to be posed in relation to this matter. I cannot complete the contribution I had planned as the Minister has listed only six of the seven successful applications. This scheme stinks.
We are running out of time.
It stinks.
I call on the Deputy to ask a question.
How can the Minister stand over a system whereby the same fat cats receive grant aid on many occasions? They are helped to build more stores and to purchase more fridges to rent out to other producers who never get a look in. Some of the most successful producers in this country, who need to upgrade their facilities and who comply with the rules and sectoral priorities of the scheme, have been ignored. The rules have been broken by the Department of Agriculture and Food. The Minister should tell the House the name of the seventh person.
The Minister will not have time to answer the question.
The Minister has given us a commitment.
We are running out of time.
He has given us a commitment.
The Deputy has asked his question.
I will try to raise this matter until it is resolved.
This is Question Time.
The process smells of corruption.
The Deputy has asked his question.
It smells of corruption.
I call the Minister for a final reply.
I will go to Europe to have this matter cleared up for once and for all.
I have called the Minister to make his final reply.
I reject the assertion that these applications have not been dealt with fairly and equitably.
The records are there to suggest otherwise.
Deputy Ryan, please.
I will demand an inquiry to show that it has not been fair.
Deputy Ryan, please.
I want a public inquiry into this.
The Deputy will be given all the information he desires.
The process should be transparent.
There will be transparency and accountability.
I ask Deputy Ryan to allow the Minister to reply without interruption and to demonstrate the same courtesy the Minister afforded to him.
I thank the Chair.
It seems to me that one has to have made a contribution to Fianna Fáil to be given a grant.
I ask Deputy Ryan to resume his seat.
That is the case.
I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
An unsuccessful candidate has been favoured.
We have to move on to Deputy Hayes's question.
It is a scandal.
I have asked for order. We have to move on to Question No. 5.
