Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the criteria and eligibility for applications under the biomass grant scheme; if growers whose crops have failed over the winter 2009/2010 are eligible to apply for this grant to help rejuvenate their crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13644/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Miscanthus and Willow BioEnergy scheme came into operation on 5th February 2010 and the closing date for applications for pre-planting approval is 31st March 2010.

The full terms and conditions are available on my Department's website, www.agriculture.gov.ie

The Scheme is open to applicants who meet the following criteria:

Applicants who are landowners or have leasehold title to the land and have responsibility for farming the land on which it is proposed to carry out the plantation.

Where an applicant has leasehold title to the land, aid will not be granted unless the leasehold title allows for planting or where the landowner has consented to planting in a supplementary lease.

An applicant who is not the owner of land involved shall only be admitted to the Scheme if they are a family member and are managing the land. Such an application can only be made with the written permission of the landowner.

Commonage shares, rented lands and grazing rights are not eligible for payment under the Scheme.

Applications will only be accepted in relation to the establishment of new sites, which were not previously planted with miscanthus and willow.