Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food if, in view of the recent economic downturn and the fact that many building contractors involved in construction projects grant aided by him, including the farm waste management scheme, have gone out of business and are unable to furnish concrete certificates to grant applicants leaving farmers unable to draw down grants due to them, if he will consider accepting alternative evidence regarding concrete strength used in these construction projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17601/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. By virtue of the terms of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme, all work had to be completed by farmers under the Scheme by end-December 2008. The Scheme provides that relevant quality certificates must, where specified, accompany materials used in the construction of developments.

I am aware, however, of a small number of cases where farmers were unable to secure such certificates due to the financial difficulties of the contractors which carried out the works. In such cases, my Department would always be prepared to consider any alternative documentation in relation to the quality of the materials used which may be available to the applicants concerned.