Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason her Department did not include in the final draft of the national development plan grant aid for on-farm grain storage facilities. [21891/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Development Plan 2007-2013 provides for continued financial support for, in particular, on-farm investments. The farm improvement scheme, which was introduced by the Department on 12 July 2007, provides grant aid to farmers for the installation of grain bins and silos at a grant rate of 40% up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of €120,000. These items were not previously eligible for grant aid under the farm waste management scheme, which closed for new applications at the end of 2006. An additional top up grant of 10% is available to eligible young farmers for the installation of these items. A substantial number of farmers have already applied for grant aid for these items since the scheme commenced and the Department is currently conducting a review of the overall grain storage.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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How many staff are employed at local level by the Department to inspect and approve those facilities? In north Tipperary there are only two people to inspect and approve under the farm improvement scheme. The old scheme has more than 400 applicants before we even come to the new scheme, which will take at least six to nine months. When will the Minister provide sufficient staff to enable the farming community to draw down the grants available to them under the scheme?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are under pressure because there was such enthusiasm for the old farm waste management scheme. We must make progress as soon as possible because the end of 2008 is the closing date. We have adopted a fast-track approach for a number of the items of interest to farmers. Over the past ten days there has been a huge increase in the number of applications and grants sanctioned. We are dealing with it to the best of our ability but we will evaluate this in the coming months.