Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers entitled to grant aid under the farm improvement scheme; the number of farmers waiting to be sanctioned; if there are sufficient funds to pay the grant committed within the next few weeks in view of the fact that the farm waste management should now be finalised; if he will verify if all farm waste management schemes are cleared; and if he will make a statement on the overall grant situation. [25844/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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6,857 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm Improvement Scheme and entitlement to grant-aid under the Scheme is established when it has been determined that the completed investment works are in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. To date in 2009, 985 payments totalling €12.3 million have been made to farmers who have completed work under the Scheme and payments will continue to farmers who have satisfactorily completed work under the Scheme until the 2009 allocation for the Scheme has been exhausted.

In the case of the Farm Waste Management Scheme, payments are continuing to be made on a phased basis with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. To date in 2009, 13,381 payments totalling almost €185.9 million have been made to farmers under the Scheme while a further 1,396 claims for grant-aid have been inspected and approved for payment. This compares to 12,847 payments in the whole of the 2008 calendar year.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the remaining 2008 REP scheme four payments will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26057/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Some 91% of farmers who applied for REPS 4 in 2007 and 2008 have received the first stage payment of 75% payment. I expect the remaining 25% payment to issue to these farmers within weeks. Arrangements are being made to ensure that the remaining applicants are paid as soon as possible.