Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

Is the Minister aware that in Northern Ireland this scheme has been extended by a number of months?

In October last, 30,000 of the 42,000 applicants had proceeded and notified the Department that they were commencing work. Obviously, there will be a number — let us not argue about its size — who will not proceed in any event. However, there is a sizeable number of farmers who will not be compliant with the Nitrates Directive by virtue of the scheme deadline. The future for them is either that they reduce their farming activities or they finance it out of their own resources, neither of which is viable in my opinion.

The Minister must also take into account the significant employment that will be generated, in rural communities, in particular, in the construction sector. According to the live register today, 17,000 additional persons went on the register in November.

Would the Minister please consider at this late stage extending the deadline by six months to enable the maximum number of applicants to complete those works and be compliant with the Nitrates Directive?

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