Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Additional aid to farmers to enable them to complete investment work required to comply with the provisions of the EU nitrates directive has been provided for under the farm waste management scheme. Under Sustaining Progress in 2003, it was agreed that improvements would be made to the grants available under the scheme and this commitment was achieved by the introduction of a revised scheme in January 2004.

Consultations are ongoing with the European Commission regarding the action programme for the implementation of the nitrates directive in Ireland. The question of further changes to the conditions of the farm waste management scheme will be considered in the light of the requirements of the action programme, when agreed.

See this speech in context