Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

There was agreement in the partnership talks that the amount would be €79 million. I cannot exceed that €79 million. That is all the money that is available. Given the economic circumstances my priority has to be delivery, in a short period, of the farm waste management scheme.

In regard to the people who had made an application which was stamped by the Department we do not know yet whether they are valid because they have to be examined up to 30 October. I would hope to have adequate resources to look after those. At this moment in time I await the information from all the local offices as to my liabilities. Then and only then can I look at what the real priorities should be in a more targeted approach under that scheme. We will do our utmost to facilitate people if we can at all.

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