Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Horticulture, Andrew Doyle TD, recently announced the opening of the 2017 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector.
Minister Doyle said “I am delighted to announce the continuation of the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector for 2017, which reflects this Government’s commitment to ongoing support of this sector. This competitive grant aid scheme is a significant source of State funding for horticultural producers and is vital to improving growers’ competitiveness, the quality of output as well as allowing growers innovate and diversify production.”
The Scheme is open to all horticultural sectors – protected crops, nursery crops, field vegetables, soft fruit, apples, beekeeping and mushrooms and will provide grant aid, at a rate of 40%, for approved capital investments undertaken by the 29th September 2017. In certain limited cases, however, funding may be approved for investments that will be completed and claimed by the 28th September 2018.
In addition, the Minister added that ‘the Horticulture sector will have access to the €150m low-interest cash flow support loan fund, providing access to highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000, at an interest rate of 2.95%’.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 16th December 2016.
