Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is aware of the consultations in progress with the EU Commission regarding the implementation in Ireland of the nitrates directive. He is also aware of the substantial increases in grants for farm waste management introduced last year. Sustaining Progress allowed for improvements to be made to the grants available under the farm waste management scheme and this commitment was achieved by the introduction of a revised farm waste management scheme in January 2004. Consideration of further amendments to the scheme must await resolution of the nitrates programme discussions with the EU. As for applying the grant aid to those with under 20 income units, this has been traditionally opposed by the Commission when sought on previous occasions, but I intend raising the matter again in these new circumstances.

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