Vol. 452 No. 8
209 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give details of the support his Department is giving to farmers that reclaim and make good disused land; the additional proposals, if any, that he is considering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8697/95]
The operational programme for agriculture, rural development and forestry sets out the priority categories for the EU Structural Funds allocated to my Department under the Community Support Framework (CSF) of EU Structural Fund assistance for Ireland 1994-99.
These priorities include headage premia, farm pollution control, improvement of dairy hygiene facilities, and various rural development measures. Considerable resources have in the past been put into land improvement activities. As these activities could not be considered a priority category it has not been possible to provide funds to cater for further land reclamation measures.
Farmers who have already taken out farm plans under the farm improvement programme which include investment in land reclamation will be able to complete these works under the scheme.
