Vol. 525 No. 5
208 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the timeframe for introducing the next phase of EU grant schemes in respect of farm retirement REP scheme and waste management; when a formal announcement will be made in this regard; and when full details of the schemes will be available. [25663/00]
On 10 November, I formally launched the CAP Rural Development Plan 2000-06 which includes measures for the new early retirement and REP schemes as provided for under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999, along with compensatory allowances and forestry. The plan provides for total public funding of £602 million for early retirement and £1.6 billion for REPS. Application forms will be available in two weeks time.
Under the national development plan a provision of £180.9 million has been made for a scheme of farm waste management for the period 2000-06. The scheme will form part of the new regional operational programmes for the Border, midlands and western region and the southern and eastern region. The operational programmes have been submitted for approval to the European Commission and this approval is expected shortly. In the meantime funding continues to be available under the nationally financed farm pollution control scheme.
