Paul Connaughton
Question:98 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the control of farmyard pollution and dairy hygiene grants will be reintroduced. [18440/98]
Written Answers. - Control of Farm Pollution Scheme.
Some £167 million was 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 £28.5 million allocated following the mid term review of the Structural Funds in July 1997, and a further £15.2 million made available from the national Exchequer in last year's Supplementary Estimate. Therefore, considerable additional funding has been made available for these measures, all of which will be used to cover existing commitments under the schemes.
There are currently no funds available to restore these schemes. However, I regard the schemes as high priority and I am continuing to pursue the question of funding to enable their reintroduction in a more focused way.