Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will announce the details of the grant aid available for dairy farmers to improve their dairy facilities. [21893/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department on 12 July 2007 and provides grant-aid for, inter alia, investments in relation to dairy hygiene. The Scheme replaces the Dairy Hygiene Scheme which closed for new applications at the end of 2006. Under the Farm Improvement Scheme, a separate investment ceiling of €120,000 is applicable to dairy hygiene investments and the standard grant-rate applicable is 40%. I have also increased the eligible investment ceilings for milking equipment and bulk milk tanks to €40,000 and €25,000 respectively. The income unit limits applicable under the Dairy Hygiene Scheme have also been removed so that all dairy farmers will be able to participate in the new Scheme.

I am satisfied that the new Scheme provides a very attractive financial package for dairy farmers intending to improve the dairying facilities on their farms.