Minister of State with special responsibility for Horticulture, Tom Hayes TD, today announced €5.7 million in funding has been awarded to successful projects under the 2015 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. The investment will mainly take place in 2015 with some further investment in large scale projects being completed in 2016.
The objectives of the Scheme are to facilitate environmentally friendly practices, to promote the diversification of on-farm activities, to improve the quality of products and to improve working conditions in the sector.
Announcing details of the grants awarded, Minister Hayes said that “visiting horticultural growers around the country, I am struck by the levels of efficiency, market focus and skill employed by Irish horticultural growers across all strands of this very competitive industry. Given that this is a competitive grant aid scheme, the available funding has been targeted at those growers with the best potential for growth and competitiveness in line with Food Harvest 2020 recommendations.”
Ireland’s horticulture industry, at farm gate level, contributes over €300m per annum to the value of agricultural output. In addition, there is significant further value-added and employment involved in Irish horticultural product processing, distribution and retailing.
The grant aid approved covers all areas of the horticultural industry; field vegetables, mushrooms, protected crops, nursery crops, soft fruit/apples, cut foliage, Christmas trees, flower bulbs and bee-keeping. The awards announced will support investments by 158 commercial producers in specialist equipment and buildings costing approximately €14 million.
The Minister concluded by saying “for the first time in the history of the Scheme, I am delighted to be able to grant approvals to complete work over two years for a number of duly justified projects. This will allow certain projects qualify for aid which previously could not have availed of support due to horticultural cropping and timing constraints.”
Investments approved under the 2015 Scheme are largely due to be completed and claimed for by 2nd October 2015; however, a small number of projects where additional time is justified have been granted an extension until 30th September 2016 to submit claims for completed approved investments.
