Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the new increased grant application forms will be available to farmers which was promised in Summer 2005 due to be available on 1 January 2006; her views on whether it is difficult for all farmers to plan without clear knowledge and even more difficult for small farmers who have no access to any grant at all; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6303/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The revised farm waste management scheme will be introduced by my Department as soon as the required EU state aid approval is received. Subject to EU approval it is proposed, inter alia, to extend the scheme to all small farmers by the removal of the requirement that farmers must have a certain level of on-farm income in order to be able to participate.

Farmers should prepare for the introduction of the revised scheme by arranging for the necessary planning permissions etc., as soon as possible. Prior written approval under the revised scheme will be necessary, however, before work commences. Application forms and the scheme document will be available in the local offices of my Department as soon as it is launched.