asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will provide grants for silage making, silage slabs and silage making equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
151.
Written Answers. - Silage Grants.
143.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the need for farmers to conserve winter feed as silage, he will make grant aid available to construct concrete slabs for farmers who do not qualify under the recently announced farm improvement scheme.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 151 together.
I am conscious of the need to stimulate the making of silage on a wider scale, particularly in the western region, and to this end, grant aid for silage storage facilities is available under the farm improvement programme (FIP) and in the west under the programme for western development (PWD). In view of the adverse weather conditions, these grants are being increased to 45 per cent in disadvantaged areas and 35 per cent in other areas for silage storage facilities the construction of which is approved between 6 June 1986 and 31 May 1987.
Aid is available in the west (of Ireland) under the FIP and PWD for basic silage making equipment.
Under the EC legislation governing the FIP and PWD, Community funding of investment in silage storage facilities is available only to applicants who meet the conditions of those programmes. In view of the limited financial resources available it is not possible at this time to provide funds from the national Exchequer to make grant aid available for silage slabs to farmers who are not eligible to participate in the FIP or PWD.