Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects the 40% grant aid for farm development to restored; her views on whether this grant aid is vital for farmers to meet dairy standards and Nitrate Directives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29919/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was suspended on 31 October 2007 as the applications had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I have no plans to reopen the Scheme prior to the review in 2008 of the terms of Towards 2016 as provided for in that agreement. This review will take stock of the outcomes achieved in relation to the overall goals and the opportunities to refocus and reprioritise. The Farm Waste Management Scheme, which provided a standard grant-rate of 60% (70% in the four Zone C counties), rather than the Farm Improvement Scheme was the principal measure designed to assist farmers to meet their obligations under the Nitrates Directive. A total of 48,580 applications were received from farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme prior to the closing date of the end of 2006 and, to date, almost 35,000 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under that Scheme.