Brendan Smith
Question:35 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the dairy hygiene scheme will be reintroduced at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23236/98]
Written Answers. - Agricultural Schemes.
Paul Connaughton
Question:41 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will introduce control of farmyard pollution, dairy hygiene and young farmer installation aid grants; and if his attention has been drawn to the thousands of farmers who are unable to join the REP scheme due to the non-availability of these grant schemes. [23234/98]
Brendan Smith
Question:45 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the control of farmyard pollution scheme will be reintroduced at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23235/98]
Willie Penrose
Question:55 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the date for the reintroduction of the installation aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23222/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 41, 45 and 55 together.
In the Estimates for the Department for 1999 which we published yesterday, an additional £25 million is being provided for the on-farm investment schemes. This funding will allow the reintroduction of the control of farm pollution and the dairy hygiene schemes in a more focused form in 1999. These new schemes will be better targeted towards those farmers most in need of assistance and will facilitate entry in the REP scheme. This extra funding, is additional to some £45 million which I had already secured for these measures since taking office, and is in line with the commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium and will facilitate investment necessary for the development of the industry. As regards the scheme of installation aid, I have also secured funding for the restoration of this scheme which will also be focused on those farmers most in need of assistance. The terms and conditions of the new scheme will be announced following the formal approval of the EU Commission and the Department of Finance, which is expected very shortly.