Written answers

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Farm Waste Management

10:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend the deadline for the farm waste management scheme in view of the fact that many applicants to the scheme have been unable to secure contractors to carry out work before the scheme deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25557/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The 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, a standard grant-rate of 60% (70% in the four Zone C counties) is available to farmers who complete investment works under the Scheme.

The end-2008 deadline is a condition of the EU state aid approval governing the Farm Waste Management Scheme, and farmers must complete the works and submit a payment claim to my Department by end-2008 so that they can qualify for the generous grants available. Indeed, my Department has recently written to all farmers who have been approved to commence work under the Scheme to remind them of the importance of compliance with this deadline. I have no plans to approach the EU Commission to alter the terms of the state aid approval.

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