Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 3

Written Answers. - Control of Farm Pollution Scheme.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

16 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the average delay in processing an application under the dairy hygiene scheme, farm retirement scheme and control of farmyard pollution scheme; and if he will make a statement on the way he intends dealing with the back-log of applications awaiting inspection and approval. [3482/95]

Michael McDowell

Question:

17 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the time taken from the receipt of applications to processing the same applications by the farm development service in respect of the control of farmyard pollution scheme, the rural environmental protection scheme and the early retirement scheme; if, he has satisfied himself that staffing levels at farm development service offices are adequate to deal effectively with applications under these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3511/95]

Brendan Smith

Question:

47 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of applications received in each county in respect of the new control of farm pollution scheme and the dairy hygiene scheme; and the number of approvals issued to date in each county. [2592/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 47 together.

Since being launched on 1 September 1994 a total of 9,566 applications have been received under the control of farm pollution scheme and 2,582 under the dairy hygiene scheme. A total of 2,125 and 278 approvals respectively have issued.

I have set out the figures on a county basis on the table which I am circulating.

Applications under the various schemes are dealt with in order of receipt subject to good operational practices. The average processing period for the rural environment protection scheme and early retirement scheme is five to eight weeks.

Due to the volume of applications received under the pollution and dairy hygiene schemes processing is of the order of 16-18 weeks.

Every effort is being made within the resources available to process applications as quickly as possible. The Deputy will be aware that an additional £5 million has allocated to my Department in last week's budget for the new charter of rights for farmers. This reflects my commitment and that of the Government to improve services to farmers.

County	Control of Farm Pollution	Dairy Hygiene
Application	Approval	Application	Approval
Carlow	86	36	9	1
Cavan	700	45	250	5
Clare	644	67	201	1
Cork	545	134	401	58
Donegal	476	72	56	4
Dublin	17	8	3	0
Galway	1,230	418	146	18
Kerry	365	105	222	89
Kildare	98	32	17	3
Kilkenny	256	148	82	21
Laois	197	40	57	5
Leitrim	443	107	31	2
Limerick	270	0	200	0
Longford	420	66	69	4
Louth	84	25	18	1
Mayo	1,264	364	158	23
Meath	241	40	69	67
Monaghan	388	112	156	13
Offaly	230	23	47	0
Roscommon	384	49	37	1
Sligo	328	35	62	0
Tipperary	200	26	86	8
Waterford	94	26	65	13
Westmeath	248	55	48	2
Wexford	231	51	57	2
Wicklow	127	41	25	1
Total	9,566	2,125	2,582	278