Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2008
1622 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason the grant payment under farm waste management due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has not been granted; and when they can expect to receive their cheque. [31076/08]
View answerThe claim for payment lodged by the person named is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
1623 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a special case to the EU Commission to have the closing date of the farm waste management programme extended in view of the delays of completion on commencement, in many cases due to the poor weather conditions over the summer of 2008 and the difficulty in some cases of getting a qualified contractor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31101/08]
View answerThe deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. I have raised this issue with the European Commission, as recently as July and the Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.
