Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The farm waste management scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive. The farm improvement scheme was introduced in July 2007 under the aegis of the 2007-13 rural development programme. The deadline for completion of work and the submission of claims for grant payment under the farm waste management scheme expired on 31 December 2008, although applicants were permitted to submit certain supporting documentation up to 9 January 2009.

Almost 17,400 claims remain to be processed to payment stage under the farm waste management scheme in 2009 and, in view of the exceptional number of payment claims received, my Department is undertaking a review of the situation which includes an assessment of the overall cost of these claims. I have already confirmed on a number of previous occasions that farmers will receive payment in respect of all works which have been completed prior to the deadline in accordance with my Department's technical specifications.

Last week, the Government took a number of decisions on the overall expenditure control and economic strategy that included the funding for the farm waste management scheme and arrangements for payment of grant aid on a phased basis. My Department is in discussion with the Department of Finance on the implications for the Department's Vote and the details that will be published in the Revised Estimates Volume next month.

Significant funding has been made available under the farm waste management scheme since its introduction in 2006, with over €527 million spent over the last two years alone. In addition, almost €13 million has been made available under the farm improvement scheme over the same period and claims are being processed and payments made as normal by my Department under the latter scheme.

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