Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on whether schemes or programmes within his Department will be suspended to accommodate the first instalment of the farm waste management scheme payments in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11974/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Payment of the first instalment of 40 per cent of the grants due to farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme commenced during the week ending 6 March 2009 and will be continued by my Department as claims are approved. I am satisfied that sufficient funding is available for the Scheme in 2009 to ensure that all farmers will receive their entitlements under the Scheme this year.

Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has started to pay the first instalments of the farm waste management grants; when he expects the second and third instalments to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11877/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Payment of the first instalment of 40 per cent of the grants due to farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme commenced during the week ending 6 March 2009 and will continue as claims are approved. The second instalment of 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred amount will be made to farmers whose Farm Waste Management grants have been partially deferred. This payment will be made in January 2011 along with the final instalment.