Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Agricultural Schemes.

David Stanton

Question:

211 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the history of dairy hygiene and farmyard pollution schemes; the proposals he has for the future of such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25667/00]

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

Investments in dairying facilities and in pollution control measures have been eligible for grant aid since the introduction of the farm modernisation scheme in 1974. This grant aid continued for farm plans taken out under the farm improvement programme until 1994. Grant aid totalling some £293 million and £187 million has been paid out under the FMS and FIP respectively of which it is estimated that 80-90% of the grant aid related to pollution control type investments.

Under the Operational Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development 1989-94 a control of farmyard pollution scheme operated. Under this scheme grant aid totalling £96.4 million was paid to 20,821 farmers.

In September 1994 a scheme of investment aid for upgrading of on-farm dairying facilities, dairy hygiene, and a scheme of investment aid for the control of farm pollution were introduced under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry 1994-99. The dairy hygiene scheme had to be suspended in October 1996 when demand for the scheme exceeded the funding available. Some £36.3 million has been paid to 5,013 dairy farmers under this scheme. The control of farm pollution scheme was suspended in April 1995 when the number of applicants had exceeded the financial provision made available for the scheme. All applications received under the scheme were processed and since its commencement a total of 14,250 farmers have being paid grant aid totalling £139.6 million.

In 1999 the national scheme of investment aid for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards and the national scheme of investment aid for the control of farm pollution were both introduced. The schemes are open to farmers with not more than 100 income units. The schemes aim to provide aid to those farmers who had been unable to avail of the 1994 scheme or in the case of the control of farm pollution scheme who had availed of less than £10,000 in grant aid on pollution control facilities in the 1994-99 period. To date £0.16 million has been paid to 43 applicants under the national dairy hygiene scheme while some 5,700 valid applications have being received under the national control of farm pollution scheme and grant aid totalling £7.1 million has been paid to 1200 farmers.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-06 provision is made for a new enhanced schemes for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards and for farm waste management. These schemes 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. It is proposed that both schemes will be open to farmers with a minimum of 20 income units from farming together with sufficient other income to ensure the viability of the farm and a maximum of 200 Income Units including off-farm income. The grant will be calculated at the rate of 40% for farmers having up to 150 income units. Farmers having 150 Income units to 200 income units will be eligible for a 20% grant rate. In addition, it is proposed that young trained farmers under 35 years will qualify for higher rates of grant aid.

Pending introduction of the new schemes for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards and for farm waste management, the current national schemes remain in place and applications made under these schemes continue to be accepted.