Almost E440000 Issued Under Horticulture Investment Scheme
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has paid out around€440,000 under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector this year.
The scheme aims to help in the development of the Irish horticulture sector, including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment.
The scheme reopened for applications in February following Storm Éowyn which resulted in unprecedented levels of damage for some growers in the horticulture sector.
Minister of State with responsibility for horticulture Michael Healy-Rae recently told Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness that a total of 164 applications had been approved by July 17, resulting in €438,645 in payments.
However, the minister said this figure does "not represent total amounts for 2025". He also reminded scheme applicants that they have until October 31, 2025 to complete their projects and submit their completed claims for payment.
The following table provides an update on the number of approvals and the amounts paid up to July 17 under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector:
County Number of approvals Amount paid to July 17 Carlow 3 €16,400 Cavan 2 - Clare 2 - Cork 12 €18,458 Donegal 6 - Galway 9 - Kerry 8 €1,841 Kildare 8 - Kilkenny 5 €197,200 Laois 2 - Limerick 6 - Longford 2 - Louth 9 - Mayo 1 - Meath 11 €5,103 Monaghan 4 - Offaly 2 - Tipperary 7 - Waterford 5 - Westmeath 3 - Wexford 18 €17,413 Wicklow 5 €8,880 Total 164 €438,645 Source: DAFM
The minister also confirmed that €15,859 has been paid out to date under the schemes providing investment aid for innovation and diversification in horticulture
These measures provide grant aid for capital investments in specialised plant and equipment to micro and by funding fundamental studies, industrial studies, and experimental development and feasibility studies.
So far, the department has approved 13 application for the schemes from counties Cork (2); Dublin (2); Kilkenny (1); Limerick (1); Monaghan (3); Tipperary (2), and Wexford (2).
Minister Healy-Rae said that applicants have until November 1, 2025 to complete their approved projects and submit their claim for payment to the department.
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