Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Fine Gael did away with that scheme in the mid-1990s.

Funding of €43 million has been provided for the scheme in the Department's 2006 Estimates. Grant aid is also to be provided to support the demonstration of new technologies in the treatment of livestock manure. This will be of particular benefit to pig and poultry producers.

The early negotiation of a derogation for farmers operating above a level of 170 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare is important for dairy farmers. The Departments of Agriculture and Food and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, are actively engaged with the European Commission in progressing Ireland's derogation request.

A number of Deputies raised the need for an information campaign. A major campaign to inform farmers about the nitrates regulations is being undertaken by my Department working closely with Teagasc and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This will involve advertising in the farming media, the preparation of a handbook for farmers explaining the regulations in plain language and information meetings for farmers.

Agriculture and the agri-food sector is in a period of major transition. With the broad policy framework in place, the Department has turned its attention to finalising an action plan for the sector. The Government is of the view that agriculture must encompass strong commercial farming as well as part-time farming to create an innovative, market-oriented and multidimensional agri-food sector to serve consumers and markets worldwide.

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