Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason an application which is fully compliant has not been granted; when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive moneys due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33095/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon who is fully compliant and who was approved under the farm waste management scheme was not paid; and when they may expect moneys due. [33096/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the timeframe regarding payment of single farm payments. [33103/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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While under the EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme, the earliest date payments may issue is 1 December of the scheme-year concerned, provision is also made for payments to be made earlier, subject to EU approval. Prompted by the very wet summer, which seriously affected farming, I approached the Agriculture Commissioner seeking agreement to an early advance 50% payment, in line with arrangements agreed for the 2007 scheme. I am pleased to say that the necessary approval was readily forthcoming and payments are now scheduled to begin issuing on 16 October, the earliest date possible, it being the first day of the new EU financial year. Balancing payments will begin to issue as and from 1 December.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive payment of a grant in respect of a slatted unit. [33104/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the anxiety and financial hardship that will be created for many farmers if the 31 December 2008 deadline for completion of work under the farm waste management scheme is not extended, that hundreds of concrete manufacturers will be severely penalised if this scheme is not extended, the number of other jobs that will be lost in rural areas and in view of the success of the scheme; if he has brought the matter of an extended deadline to the attention of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33126/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect strictly this deadline.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grant aid approved to date on the 40% farm improvement scheme; if the €79 million allocated to the scheme will be sufficient to approve all projects up to the cut-off date of 21 October 2007; if farmers who had their application in before 1 November 2007 can expect approval for their projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of allocation of €79 million was provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and the Scheme was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. Applications received up to 21 October 2007 are now being processed by my Department and the funding of €79 million is sufficient to enable approvals to be issued for these applications.