Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to renew the lime scheme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45630/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The National Liming Programme was introduced this year as a once-off, National Exchequer funded measure in response to cost increases arising form the war in Ukraine. The budget of €16 million for the Programme is only available in 2023.

I recently announced an important flexibility regarding the lime spreading deadline under the Programme. This was in response to the exceptionally wet weather over recent months, impacting ground conditions and limiting farmer's opportunities to spread lime. Under this flexibility, the deadline of the 31st of October 2023 remains in place for receipt of claims for aid, however applicants now have until the 31st of March 2024 to spread their approved quantity of lime.

There is no available budget for the Programme to open to new applications. Therefore my Department will not be in a position to renew the Liming Programme in 2024.