Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 14 February 2006, when she intends to introduce the new farm waste management grants; if the building specifications will differ from the previous scheme; if all new specifications have been published; the rates of payment of the new grant; the discussions she has had with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding local authority development charges on such buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9425/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The revised farm waste management scheme will be introduced as soon as the required EU state aid approval is received from the EU Commission. Subject to receipt of this approval, the scheme will provide for an increase in the current standard grant rate from 40% to 60%, with 70% being available in the four zone C counties; be extended to include horses, deer, goats, pigs and poultry, and mushroom compost; permit all small farmers to participate in the scheme by the removal of any minimum income requirements from farming from the scheme; and provide for an increase in the maximum eligible investment ceiling from €75,000 to €120,000.

Any changes to my Department's specifications for agricultural buildings will be published prior to the launch of the revised scheme. Local authority development charges are a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which has established an interdepartmental committee to look at a number of issues concerning development contributions schemes.