John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce details of the €45 million investment support scheme aimed at helping young dairy farmers to adjust to expanding dairy opportunities and make their commercial operations more cost-effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3688/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's revised Rural Development Programme provides a number of new on farm investment schemes, including a new €45 million investment support scheme for young dairy farmers. These will be co-funded by the National Exchequer and from additional modulation arising from the CAP Health Check and from the European Economic Recovery Package.

The Programme was approved by the EU Rural Development Management Committee on 20 January 2010. It must now be formally approved by the European Commission, which is expected by the end of February. The roll-out of the various investment schemes will then be phased over the lifetime of the Programme.