asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason he recently announced a sharp decrease in grant aid under the farm improvement scheme.
Written Answers. - Farm Improvement Scheme.
21.
When the special EC western scheme was introduced in July 1988 it was necessary to increase the grant rates under the farm improvement programme in the disadvantaged areas to comply with a condition in the EC regulation. The western measure has now been replaced by the EC scheme for the control of farmyard pollution which provides the higher rates of grant for antipollution investment on a countrywide basis. Accordingly the grant rates under the farm improvement programme have been restored to what they were in July 1988.