Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason on the 29 July 2005 she promised 70% aid and 10% top up for eligible young farmers in Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Donegal yet when the scheme was announced young farmers are only receiving 70% plus 5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12339/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On 29 July 2005 I announced the outline of the revised farm waste management scheme on which I would be seeking EU Commission approval. However, during the course of the negotiations on the revised scheme, the EU Commission indicated that the maximum grant rate it would be prepared to accept in less-favoured areas would be 75%. Accordingly, the published scheme, launched on 24 March 2006, now reflects this ceiling.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the young farmers who are eligible for top-up grants under the new grant scheme; if this includes young farmers with a green certificate under 35 or if there are other restrictions; if a young farmer inherits a farm where some grant work has been carried out recently they start with a clean sheet as far as investment is concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12340/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the revised farm waste management scheme launched by my Department on 24 March 2006, top-up grants are available for young farmers in less-favoured areas for investments in animal housing, slurry storage and related items. In order to be eligible for the top-up grant, the young farmer must be under 35, meet the educational requirements of the scheme, and be farming for less than five years. This latter requirement is a condition of the EU provisions governing the scheme and I have no discretion in the matter.

The top-up grants concerned are: 10%, where the site is in a less-favoured area and the applicant is not in receipt of a zone C grant; and 5%, where the site is in a less-favoured area and the applicant is in receipt of a zone C grant. Where the young farmer inherits a holding on which grant-aided investments have previously taken place under the scheme, such investments are deducted from the €120,000 investment ceiling applicable under the scheme.