Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 9: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the interim measures she proposes to deal with those people whose farm improvement scheme applications have been suspended, which will result in their inability to comply with either REP scheme conditions or the nitrates directive. [30121/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The farm improvement scheme was launched by my Department in July with funding of €79 million as agreed under the partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I announced the suspension of the scheme on 31 October, as applications received thereunder had reached this level of funding. I had made it clear at the time of the introduction of the scheme that it would be closed when the financial ceiling had been reached. This was also explicitly provided for in the terms and conditions of the scheme. The applications received under the scheme up to 31 October will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding available. I have no plans to reopen the scheme to further applications prior to the review in 2008 of Towards 2016 as provided for in that agreement.

The revised farm waste management scheme which was introduced by my Department in March 2006, rather than the farm improvement scheme, was the principal measure designed to assist farmers to meet their obligations under the nitrates directive. A standard grant rate of 60%, 70% in the four zone C counties, is available to farmers who complete works under that scheme. Some 48,580 applications were received from farmers under the scheme and, to date, almost 35,000 approvals have been issued by my Department to farmers to commence work which work must be completed and supporting documentation submitted by 31 December 2008.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister accept that some of those who signed up for the REP scheme cannot complete their works and that not all of them will be covered under the farm waste management scheme? There are two choices available to them, one of which is to defer their REP scheme entry. If in year one, most have to comply with their housing need target. Otherwise, they will have to proceed without the grant and not to the standard preferred. Some feel as if there is a gun to their heads. I am aware of individuals who submitted valid stamped applications one week before 31 October, but who were told they would be excluded. When their application was receipted and accepted, they presumed it was valid and felt they were in the comfort zone, even after the Minister had announced she was closing the scheme. Subsequently, they have heard their applications may not be not accepted.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To clarify, I was given €79 million and it was agreed that the existing farm waste management scheme was to have priority to deal with the issue of nitrates. It was, without shadow of a doubt, one of the best schemes ever introduced, besides being flexible and catering for farmers with fewer than 20 livestock units to farmers with investments of over €120,000. It was agreed by both politicians and farmers that we had to deal with the nitrates issue and that this was the most important scheme.

With regard to those farmers who had applications under the farm improvement scheme submitted and stamped before the end of October, they are within the scheme. I hope, once we get through all the applications and ascertain their bona fides — I heard some farmers threw in applications just because they heard the scheme was going to close, whereas others may have been under greater pressure to address various issues — we will be able to provide greater clarity for those applications submitted between 21 and 31 October. Anybody who is within the system and has been accepted and whose application has been stamped will be reviewed but we have await the financial implications and then look at the priorities.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister have a timeframe?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes, the beginning of next year.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not satisfied with that answer because this was a demand-led scheme and was open to all comers. If somebody gets an application in on time it is as valid as any other application. I do not see why the Minister can discriminate against those people who applied within those timeframes but, because the budget line is suddenly cut, are not to be considered. I ask the Minister to review the decision on the basis that if we encounter serious changes in agriculture into the future then it will be a matter for farmers to improve their holdings and their facilities. This is a wonderful scheme in terms of what it seeks to achieve but there should be more flexibility on the part of the Government to allow at least those people who got in before the cut-off to be considered. The word "review" is a very broad term. It is not a concrete term and it gives no solace to those farmers who applied on time.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I was just reading from a text message I have here arising from my membership of the IFA. The message states that IFA never agreed to any upper limit. That is the message it sent out to all its farmer members.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The IFA can produce all the money.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is a problem for many farmers and one they did not expect. What can I tell a young farmer in his 20s, whose father dropped dead at 50 years of age, for whom it took some time to get his application in for an urgent dairy grant? How will he survive in the difficult situation in which he finds himself?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy knows, taking individual cases to the floor of the House is not appropriate.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does it make the Minister feel uncomfortable?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It does not make me feel uncomfortable. Perhaps less of the Deputy's smart alec comments about what I have done in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food——

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is all about individual farmers. The Minister should not forget that.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If the Minister would confine herself to addressing the Chair and if Deputies would allow the Minister to answer the questions posed we could proceed on that basis.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At this moment in time the scheme is closed. The amount of money available is not finite, it is €79 million. That is all the money that was made available under the farm improvement scheme.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It was marketed up to 2013.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would rather not make political points because I know Deputy Crawford is genuine in supporting a particular family. If there are additional resources available when the Department looks at priorities, issues such as that would have to be given priority. I remind members of the Fine Gael Party——

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Here we go again, the party political broadcast.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

——that it found itself in that situation heretofore on the basis that it did not have adequate resources available.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It was marketed to run from 2007 to 2013.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have an agreement for the amount of resources available. More than 6,000 applications arrived in the Department in one week.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister needs a history lesson.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Perhaps we should have looked at the scheme in a more exemplary way where those in most need would be facilitated.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

So the farmer——