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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Dairy Hygiene Regulations.

Michael Creed

Question:

189 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to introduce a scheme of financial assistance for farmers to meet the cost of dairy hygiene regulations and the cost of pollution control on farmyards; and if this scheme will be Exchequer or EU funded. [18542/98]

Some £167 million has been made available under the current Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry for the control of farm pollution and dairy hygiene schemes which has been fully utilised. This includes additional funding of over £43 million provided since June 1997 of which £15.2 million is from National Exchequer funds. The additional funding has been used to cover existing commitments under the schemes.

There are currently no Structural Funds available to restore these schemes, hence the cost of any new schemes would have to be met entirely by the National Exchequer. I regard the schemes as high priority and I am continuing to pursue the question of national funding to enable their reintroduction in a more focused way.

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