Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2024
134. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update with regard to a lime spreading grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23120/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Liming Programme was launched in March 2023 to incentivise the use of ground limestone, a natural soil conditioner which corrects soil acidity, makes nutrients more available for plant uptake, and improves overall soil health.
In late October 2023 some quarries expressed concerns that they would not be able to process payments and provide invoices for all farmers seeking to forward buy ground limestone before the Liming Programme's original claim deadline of the 31st October. In response, I granted a one-week extension to the deadline for the submission of claims. Claims for payment were accepted up until midnight on the 7th November 2023.
A search of Department records has identified that the person named did not submit a claim within the required time period for the Liming Programme and is therefore not eligible to receive aid under the Programme.
The Terms and Conditions for the programme state “To be eligible for this measure all invoices must be up-loaded in ONE claim (a maximum of 5 Invoices can be submitted). Invoices may be lodged from the date the claim system is available on Agfood until the 7th November 2023”.
The claims I.T. system closed in November and to be fair to all farmers it is not possible to process late claims.
