I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 17, 24, 38 and 47 together.
Under the farm improvement programme grant rates of 25 per cent in less favoured areas and 20 per cent elsewhere are available for waste storage facilities, principally slurry and silage effluent. This is higher than the rates for fixed assets generally. In addition a 10 per cent grant is available towards the cost of slurry tankers as part of a storage and spreading system. The rates of grant available under the FIP are reasonably attractive and in view of the limited resources available for assisting on-farm development, it is not proposed to increase them.
The Council of Ministers recently at my request agreed proposals for a revised Western Package, including investment aid for basic livestock housing, fodder storage and associated waste storage with a FEOGA contribution of up to 70 per cent. The aid would be available outside a farm plan and would apply in less favoured areas in the country as a whole. Detailed implementation plans for the revised package are being drawn up at present and an announcement will be made when our implementation programme has been formally approved by the EC Commission later in the year.
While my Department have no statutory function in relation to pollution control measures, grant aid for farm investments with a pollution potential is paid only where adequate waste storage facilities are provided.
I welcome the support received from the farming organisations and their readiness to help in the Government's programme on water pollution. ACOT's role in advising and educating farmers in this area is particularly important.
I have directed that a review be carried out of the system of grant aid for anti-pollution measures to ensure that it makes the most effective contribution possible to preventing damage to the environment from farming activities.