Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress being made by him to complete farm waste management inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20317/09]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects that the remainder of the farm waste management grants will be inspected; when their first payment will be made; if he is satisfied sufficient staff have been made available to inspect the projects at farm level, to process the applications at office level and to have them sanctioned for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19986/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62.

The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 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.

It is intended that the first instalment of 40 per cent will have been paid by my Department in respect of all approved claims by end-June 2009 and my Department keeps its staffing arrangements in local offices under constant review in order to ensure that payments continue to flow in a timely manner to farmers under the Scheme. In addition, revised arrangements have been introduced by my Department to expedite the approval procedures involved.