Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will process without delay applications made by farmers to the farm investment scheme between 21 October 2007 and 31 October 2007 as many of these farmers are combining FIS investment with the farm waste management scheme investment in view of the fact that the deadline for completed works for the farm waste management scheme is 31 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19621/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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â'¬79 million was provided under the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016, for the operation of the Farm Improvement Scheme. 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 31 October 2007. These applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available. To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm improvement Scheme. The remaining applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available. The deadline of end-2008 for completion of works under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 does not apply to the Farm Improvement Scheme. Under the latter Scheme, farmers normally have a period of two years from the date of approval to complete the investment works concerned.