Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to provide supports to facilitate and ensure the implementation of EU Directives on water, waste, nitrates and integrated pollution. [18160/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Waste management is primarily a matter for the Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The control authorities for water, nitrates and integrated pollution are the Environmental Protection Agency and/or local authorities.

Under the cross-compliance arrangements operated by my Department for certain schemes, including the Single Payment Scheme, checks on farms are undertaken for compliance with the requirements of the nitrates regulations. The Department has also taken steps to assist farmers meet their obligation under the Regulations, such as the publication of an Explanatory Handbook, information meetings for farmers and providing statements of nitrogen and phosphorus produced on farms.

In addition, a revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Under the Scheme, grant-aid is available at a standard rate of 60% (70% in the four Zone C counties) to farmers who complete investment works under the Scheme. 48,580 applications were received from farmers under the Scheme and, to date this year, €68 million has been paid out to farmers under the Scheme, compared to €114 million in the calendar year 2007.