# The Horticulture Pilot Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, Regulation 5: Innovation driver and support pilot scheme grant; Eligibility requirements

Extent: N.I.

(1) The innovation driver and support pilot scheme shall start on the date beginning with the commencement of these Regulations and end on 31st March 2030.
(2) An applicant for an innovation driver and support pilot scheme grant must–
(a) hold a DAERA category 1 or 2 farm business ID number;
(b) operate a commercial horticulture business.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5) and (6) the Department may pay a grant of 40% of a sum between £10,000 and £625,000 in respect of approved permitted expenditure incurred by the applicant within the scheme period.
(4) Subject to force majeure or exceptional circumstances, an applicant must apply for payment of approved permitted expenditure within such period as the Department may specify in writing.
(5) Subject to paragraph (4), payment shall be made to an applicant when that applicant provides vouched expenditure records and documentation to the satisfaction of the Department.
(6) In this regulation–
“approved” means expenditure which has been given prior written approval by the Department in relation to any category of expenditure listed in paragraph (5);
“permitted” in relation to expenditure means expenditure incurred for–
(a) the improved efficiency of the commercial horticulture business premises; or
(b) new methods of horticultural cultivation.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2025/103/regulation/5 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/horticulture-pilot-scheme-regulations-northern-ireland-2025/regulation-5
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.