asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on whether there is sufficient State support for farmers attempting to cope with major pollution problems.
Written Answers. - Pollution Control Measures Aid.
38.
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 Council of Ministers recently agreed proposals for a revised western package. And for pollution control measures will be a key element of the new programme. The aid will be available outside a farm plan and in all less favoured areas and not just the western region as heretofore. A detailed programme for the revised package has been approved by the Government and an announcement will be made when it has been approved by the EC Commission.
The aid under the farm improvement programme and that proposed under the western package, taken together, will provide a satisfactory framework of State support for pollution control.