Vol. 550 No. 4
267 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of applications he has received in respect of farm pollution grant assistance in 2001; the number which have been paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9307/02]
Some 2,330 valid applications have been received in 2001 in my Department under the scheme of investment aid for farm waste management. In relation to these applications, a total of 181 payments amounting to €0.9 million have issued. The processing of applications was severely disrupted because of the restrictions on farm visits imposed during the FMD crisis and the allocation of farm development inspection staff to FMD duties. We are clearing the backlog of applications and that in excess of 1,600 approvals to commence investment work have issued to farmers.
