Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the increase in the rate of grant available to cover rising costs under the farm building grant schemes in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18841/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Waste Management Scheme, Dairy Hygiene Scheme and Alternative Enterprises Scheme were introduced by my Department in February 2001 under the aegis of National Development Plan 2000-2006. A subsequent scheme, the Pig Welfare Scheme, was introduced in June 2005.

New Standard Costings were introduced by my Department in 2001 to coincide with the introduction of the new Schemes and these Costings were subsequently revised with effect from December 2002 and again in September 2004 in order to reflect rising building costs. These Costings are currently being reviewed and further revised Costings will be introduced as soon as possible.

The detailed Costing figures are not released by my Department so I am not in a position to indicate the increases in the years concerned.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is possible under the EU regulations on sugar reform for the National Exchequer to top up the level of compensation available to each or any sector involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18842/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The compensation package negotiated in the context of reform of the EU sugar regime is worth over €310m to Irish stakeholders. There are three elements to the compensation package.

The first element is the compensation to beet growers of up to 64% of the reduction in the minimum price for beet. This compensation, which will be incorporated in the existing Single Payment Scheme and will be payable from 2006, is worth approximately €123m to Irish beet growers over the next seven years.

The second element of the compensation package is the restructuring aid covering the economic, social and environmental costs of restructuring of the sugar industry involving factory closure and renunciation of quota. In Ireland's case, this would be worth up to €145m.

The third element of the package is the diversification aid, worth almost €44m in Ireland's case, which would be drawn down in the framework of a national restructuring programme.

The relevant EU Regulation does not provide for a top up of these compensation amounts from national funds.