Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 5

Written Answers. - Horticultural Production.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

77 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps his Department is taking in order to promote horticulture and invest in horticultural activity and production as promised in the Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20838/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

My Department supports the development and promotion of horticultural production by providing significant funding in a number of schemes to aid growers in improving production methods, and meeting high quality standards.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, there are schemes of investment aid in the commercial horticulture and the potato sectors, for which €24.6 million has been allocated over that period. Some 275 projects involving grant aid of €7 million were approved under the first round of these schemes, which will conclude shortly. Also under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 my Department operates a capital investment scheme for marketing and processing of agricultural products, which includes horticultural and potato products. A total of €25 million has been allocated over the duration of this scheme. Grant aid of €4 million was awarded to 20 horti cultural projects in these sectors in the first round of the scheme.

An EU funded scheme of aid for producer organisations is also in operation under which my Department encourages horticultural producers to come together to form groups with the aim of improving quality, concentrating supply and reducing costs of products while respecting environmental conditions. At present there are 17 recognised groups representing growers with an estimated output in 2001 of €127 million. Aid of some €3 million was paid to producer organisations in 2002 and this will increase significantly in future years.

My Department also provides funding to An Bord Glas and Teagasc to assist in the development of the sector. An Bord Glas operates a quality assurance programme for growers to ensure that produce is of a high standard acceptable to consumers and also carries out promotional activities. Producers can avail of research and training into improved production which is carried out by Teagasc. In addition, quality standards for fruit and vegetables set down in EU regulations are monitored at retail, wholesale and import stages by inspectors of my Department.