Vol. 422 No. 5
162 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when it is intended to introduce the grants promised in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to upgrade dairying facilities to comply with the new hygiene regulations.
The commitment made in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress was that a working party which will include representatives of the farming organisations will examine the new milk hygiene regulations and work on a submission which could be lodged for Community aid.
The new hygiene Directives have recently been agreed and will enter into force from 1 January 1994. The preparation of a submission for Community aid to facilitate the necessary up-grading is under way.
Grant aid is already available to dairy producers towards the cost of certain equipment leading to an improvement in milk quality.
