Section 4 Applications for grants under the Marketing Development Scheme
Any person wishing to be considered for the payment of a grant under this Scheme shall apply for such a grant to the appropriate Minister in such form as the Minister concerned may from time to time determine.
Each application, except one relating only to a feasibility study, training or the appointment of new directors or to any combination thereof, shall be supported by a comprehensive feasibility study setting out the objective of the proposal for which the grant is sought and the means by which that objective is to be achieved.
The study required by sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph shall at least include the information specified in Schedule 2 hereto.
In the case of an application for a grant relating exclusively to training or the appointment of new directors that application shall contain a reasoned case whereby the need for that training or appointment is objectively justified.
In considering whether or not to accept an application for a grant under this Scheme the appropriate Minister—
shall have regard to—
the need for the proposal to which the application relates,
the importance of that proposal in relation to the market at which it is targeted, and
the likely benefit of that proposal to the agricultural or food industry; and
may seek the advice of any specialist in order to assess the merits of the proposal to which the application relates.
A person may apply for more than one grant under this Scheme.
In accepting an application for a grant under this Scheme, the appropriate Minister shall indicate to the applicant how long the proposal to which the grant relates will be funded under it, which period of time shall not exceed four years; and any subsequent reference in this Scheme to a proposal being funded is a reference to the proposal concerned being funded under it.