Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:169 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if replanting of an orchard will be allowed as an allowable project for assistance under the farm improvement scheme. [25605/03]
Written Answers. - Farm Improvement Scheme.
The farm improvement programme which provided grant aid to approved apple growers to plant trees is no longer in operation. EU policy in more recent years has sought to address a mismatch between supply and demand and to improve Community production of apples and other fruits. In pursuit of this policy a premium was granted at EU level for the grubbing up of apple trees, excluding cider trees, on con dition that applicants undertook to refrain from replanting any trees for a period of at least 15 years. A number of Irish growers availed of this measure while it applied. In applying grant schemes at domestic level it became necessary therefore to ensure that schemes for the grant aid of horticulture during the last decade were compatible with broader EU considerations. I understand that the French scheme was designed to cut overall production capacity.
The domestic apple producing sector, however, continues to be supported. A producer organisation consisting mainly of apple growers has been in receipt of substantial EU funding on an ongoing basis in support of its operational programme and intervention activities. In this connection there is potential for funding apple trees as part of the operational programme of a recognised producer organisation. In addition, under round 1, 2001-02 of the NDP scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector, five apple producers were approved for investment worth €205,000 in equipment. Under round two this year, investments of €73,000 in four apple projects have been approved.