Vol. 569 No. 4
163 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was refused a grant or investment aid under the Regional Oper ational Programme 2000-06; and if he will make a statement on the scheme and the complaint from the person. [17923/03]
164 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the criteria used in selecting applicants for grants under the regional operational programme relative to investment aid; if the trading and employment record of the company was considered; the names of all those who received grants; the amounts allocated; if those who did not receive grants on this occasion will be considered again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17924/03]
I propose to take Parliamentary Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.
The funding for round two of the scheme of investment aid for the development of commercial horticulture under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 for the year 2003 was €1.4 million. A total of 206 applications were received with grant aid of €7 million being sought in respect of investments of €21 million. The grant aid of €1.4 million was awarded to 129 applicants.
A selection committee consisting of Department officials evaluated all applications. In making the selections a wide number of factors were taken into account in the allocation of the grants within the funding limits. These factors included: the relative value of the output of each of the sectors to the horticulture industry; compliance with conditions of the scheme; previous applications for grant aid under round one of the scheme and the track record of the applicant; the needs of the sector as well as the effect on the individual enterprise; the need for the prioritising of investments in environmental projects, new technology and specialised equipment; and capacity of having the investment completed within the specified timeframe.
Details have been supplied of the number of projects assisted per sector, the actual approved expenditure in each of the six sectors of the horticulture industry, and the average grant per applicant in that sector. The person referred to by the Deputy received a grant in the first round of this scheme which was paid to him in 2002. I regret that limited funds did not allow for a grant to be paid in this second round. It will be open to those who did not receive grants in this round to apply in 2004 subject to funding being available.
|
Sector |
Number of Projects Assisted |
Approved Expenditure |
Average Rate of Grant |
|
€ |
|||
|
Nursery stock |
23 |
476,707 |
7,254 |
|
Protected crops |
14 |
629,890 |
15,747 |
|
Mushrooms |
51 |
2,213409 |
15,190 |
|
Field vegetables |
20 |
823,012 |
14,402 |
|
Soft fruit |
9 |
200,137 |
7,783 |
|
Apples/other |
12 |
233,861 |
6,820 |
|
Totals |
129 |
4,577,016 |
12,418 |
