Noel Dempsey
Ceist:24 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to fund the control of farm pollution scheme. [11281/95]
Written Answers. - Farmyard Pollution Scheme.
Noel Davern
Ceist:42 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to fund the control of farm pollution scheme. [11279/95]
Síle de Valera
Ceist:66 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to fund the control of farm pollution scheme. [11283/95]
Brian Cowen
Ceist:175 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, he has made to secure additional funding for the control of farmyard pollution scheme in view of his statement that the scheme is underfunded by £48 million. [11451/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 42, 66 and 175 together.
The Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry under the 1994-1999 round of Structural Funds provides funding of approximately £195 million for on-farm capital investment. About half of this has been earmarked for the scheme for the control of farm pollution. I have already indicated that the overall level of funding provided for this scheme by the previous Government was inadequate. My plans are to make a strong case for extra funding for this very important scheme when the mid-term review of the Structural Funds gets under way in 1996.
In the interim my officials are carrying out a detailed examination of all other schemes in the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry to indentify where savings can be made. I expect that this work will be completed by September. I am confident that this examination will enable me to make progress in 1995 on the remaining unapproved applications still on hands.