Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their single farm payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18982/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied to have Single Payment entitlements transferred to him by way of inheritance. My Department has now processed this application and payment amounting to €13,284.80 will issue to the applicant shortly.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to ensure the maximum possible uptake of the farm waste management grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18992/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Following receipt of the required EU approval, the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was launched by my Department on 24 March 2006. Application forms, together with the accompanying terms and conditions, are available from the local Agricultural Environment and Structures (AES) offices of my Department and are also available on my Department's web-site.

The principal changes to the Scheme include (a) an increase in the standard grant-rate from 40% to 60%, with 70% being available in the four Zone C counties; (b) an extension of the Scheme for the first time to sectors such as horses, deer, goats, pigs and poultry, and mushroom compost; (c) the removal of any minimum income requirements from farming from the Scheme so that all small farmers can participate in the Scheme; and (d) an increase in the maximum eligible investment from €75,000 to €120,000 per holding.

Since the introduction of the new Scheme, a substantial information programme has been put in place by officials of my Department in order to ensure that farmers and agricultural planners are fully aware of the benefits of the new Scheme. As the Scheme closes for applications at the end of 2006, I have also arranged that applications will be accepted by my Department as soon as any required planning permission has been applied for to the relevant local authority.

I am glad to be able to confirm that these amendments to the Scheme have resulted in a massive increase in uptake by farmers under the Scheme, with over 2,000 applications already having been received during the first seven weeks of the Scheme compared to just over 3,000 in the whole of the 2005 calendar year.