Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she intends aiding digesters to deal with pig and poultry manure arising from the application of the nitrates directive. [38299/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I have recently announced details of a proposed revised farm waste management scheme, including its extension to the pig and poultry sectors, in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates action programme. The revised scheme will be introduced as soon as EU state aid approval is obtained.

In addition to the revised farm waste management scheme, I am also proposing to introduce a further pilot scheme to support the demonstration of new and emerging technologies, such as digestors to further assist, in particular, the pig and poultry sectors. The maximum eligible investment ceiling per project will be €1 million with a proposed grant-rate of 40% and it is envisaged that funding will be made available for up to ten projects throughout the State. The scheme will be introduced as soon as EU approval is obtained.