Vol. 464 No. 2
15 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7806/96]
30 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7810/96]
41 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7814/96]
42 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7807/96]
47 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7808/96]
52 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7812/96]
53 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7809/96]
55 Mr. P. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7813/96]
70 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce a capital grants scheme for farm buildings to cater for farmers who are not in an existing control of farmyard pollution scheme and who therefore cannot qualify for the REP scheme. [7811/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 30, 41, 42, 47, 52, 53, 55 and 70 together.
The scheme for the control of farm pollution was launched in September 1994 and due to the extremely high level of demand compared with the funding provided it was necessary to suspend the acceptance of new applications on 27 April 1995. At that stage there were 18,500 applications. Indeed, there was inadequate funding to meet commitments to applicants under the scheme to that date. Since then I have actually succeeded in obtaining the agreement of the Government to provide adequate funds to meet the demand from existing applicants.
Unfortunately, as there are no further EU funds available it will not be possible to reopen the scheme in the foreseeable future.
