Under the national development plan, an amount of £147 million is provided for a scheme of waste management for the period 2000-6. As built into the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, consultation on the scheme has taken place with the farm organisations. Proposals under the new scheme provide for a maximum of 200 income units with a grant rate of 40% of approved costs subject to a maximum grant of £16,000 applicable in the case of farmers having income units up to 150 units. A grant rate of 20% of approved costs subject to a maximum grant of £8,000 is proposed in the case of farmers having income units between 151 and 200 units. In effect, dairy farmers with a permanent milk quota of up to 80,000 gallons may be eligible for grant aid under this new scheme.
The terms and conditions of the proposed new scheme are at present being drafted by my Department for submission to the European Commission for approval. Following receipt of that approval, the scheme will be implemented at an early date.
