Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 4

Written Answers. - Control of Farm Pollution Scheme.

Brendan Daly

Question:

145 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the arrangements, if any, he will make to pay grant aid to farmers under the control of farmyard pollution scheme who were obliged, due to the dangers of causing pollution, to undertake urgent necessary works between the date of the suspension of payments under the old scheme and 28 June 1999 when the new scheme came in to operation; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of projects had to be undertaken and that the farmers in question cannot claim payment even though the projects have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19103/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Under the operational guidelines approved by the EU Commission for the new national scheme for the control of farm pollution, it is a condition that investment works cannot commence until written approval is given by my Department. Accordingly, any investment works carried out on farms prior to the commencement of this scheme cannot be grant aided.