Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the range of incentives available to the agri-sector for pollution control here; the way this compares with the best and worst in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4205/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Grant-aid was provided by my Department in regard to various investments in relation to agricultural pollution control by the Farm Waste Management Scheme which, under the revised version of the Scheme introduced in 2006, provided a standard grant-rate of 60 per cent (70 per cent in the four Zone C counties) for the construction of animal housing, slurry storage facilities and related items. In addition, a grant was available at a rate of 40 per cent for specialized on-farm equipment with specific environmental advantages such as decanter centrifuge systems, dry feeding systems for pigs and specialized slurry spreading tankers.

Total expenditure under the Scheme to date, since its introduction in 2001, is €1.098 billion and, when the final instalment of grant-aid payable under the Scheme is paid early next year, expenditure under the Scheme will exceed €1.2 billion. I am satisfied that the range of grants available under the Scheme bore favourable comparison with those made available in other Member States, particularly within the context of ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Nitrates Directive.