Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Under EU rules on who can get grants under the programme, farm contractors are not eligible, although farmers are. The Deputy is correct that where it is a requirement and an obligation on farmers to spread using low emissions slurry spreading, we cannot grant aid compliance, even where it is a requirement for a farmer to use something to achieve compliance. What has happened in recent years is that we have made sure to give lead-in periods in advance of something becoming an obligation so farmers can prepare for that. In that advance period, they have been able to avail of grants. There are more than 3,000 low-emissions slurry spreading machines being used by farmers in derogation who would have purchased them in advance and are now making strong use of them. Likewise, in regard to proposed changes to be made to the nitrates derogation, farmers will be given a lead-in time in order that they have advance notice to ensure support is available in advance of it becoming a requirement. We want to support farmers to adopt this. We want to support them with the cost because it is going to make a real impact on farm profitability and better use of nutrients and, very importantly, it is much kinder from an environmental point of view.

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