Vol. 577 No. 3
170 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will be announcing the changes promised in the operating of the dairy hygiene investment scheme for farmers earlier in 2003 as part of the Sustaining Progress programme. [30943/03]
As part of the Sustaining Progress agreement, the income unit, IU, ceiling for eligibility under the dairy hygiene scheme is to be increased from the current level of 200 IUs to 450 IUs.
The investment ceiling is also to be increased to €50,000 together with a standard rate of grant of 40%. However, as the scheme is co-funded by the EU, the approval of the European Commission is required before the changes can be implemented. As it is a matter for the regional assemblies to seek this approval, the proposals were considered and approved at recent meetings of the monitoring committees for the regions, following which the formal approach to the European Commission was made. This was done by the directors of both assemblies on 24 October.
