Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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491. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he is considering extending the closing date for the National Liming Programme 2023 beyond the 31st of October 2023 due to the adverse weather conditions during the Summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42492/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Liming Programme was introduced by my Department to incentivise the use of Lime a natural soil conditioner, which corrects soil acidity by neutralising the acids that are present in the soil. I appreciate it has been a difficult year weather-wise.

The closing date for receipt of claims under the Liming Programme is 31 October. The Programme itself is funded by the National Exchequer as part of a once-off set of measures for 2023 in response to the situation in Ukraine. The funds available for the Programme must be utilised this year.

To ensure all checks are completed and payments issue this year the closing date of 31 October was selected for receipt of claims, facilitating prompt payment of farmers this year.